Sunday, December 12, 2010

Police Blotter: Sheriff Warns Of "Door Kick Crew"

According to a San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department news release, an investigation is under way into residential burglaries in which the front door has been kicked in. Residents are arriving home, finding the front door kicked in and valuables taken.

 During the course of their investigation, detectives have learned that the suspects will approach houses in a neighborhood they believe to be unoccupied. One will go to the door and knock. When no one answers, they will give the door a swift, hard kick and force it open.

 The rest of the crew will then enter the residence and fan out. They will take flat screen televisions, laptop computers, IPads, IPods, Playstations, Wii games and jewelry. They will be in and out of the house within a short time.

 It’s not uncommon for these crews to use a juvenile to approach the residence. The rest of the crew, consisting of a parolee or other adults, will be hiding nearby. If someone answers the door, the juvenile crew member will ask for a person by name, who obviously doesn’t live there. When the homeowner states there is no one there by that name, the juvenile will simply leave and go to the next house. They will continue in this manner until the door goes unanswered. And they will then enter that house the same way.

 Detective Kenny Green, who has been investigating similar residential burglaries in Loma Linda, offers the following advice to homeowners:

 "Once they leave, look out the window and see if you can get a vehicle description and license plate number. Chances are a house will be hit in the neighborhood and you may be able to provide investigators with valuable information."

 Beware of utility workers wanting to look at the electrical panel or other such device when you haven’t made a service call. In recent scams there will be two workers posing as utility workers; one to distract the homeowner while the other goes into back rooms looking for valuables. Rarely will utility workers come to your house "just to check things out". You can ask them to wait outside while you call the utility company to verify their presence. Or you can tell them this isn’t a good time and you will call to reschedule.

 Join a Neighborhood Watch Program. This popular crime prevention program is an effective way to deter criminal activity in your neighborhood. Contact your local law enforcement agency for more information on starting a Neighborhood Watch Program in your area.

 "But most importantly, we must all be aware of what is going on in our neighborhoods and stay alert to suspicious activity," Detective Green adds. "Keeping a notepad handy by the front window or telephone is a great tool for jotting down notes whenever something just doesn’t seem right."

Tuesday, February 9, 2010

Victims of Monday's Plane Crash Identified

According to an update on The San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department website, Capt. Joseph M. Gauthier, age 27, and Capt. Amanda K. Herrington, age 29, both members of 163rd Reconnaissance Wing, MQ-1 Pilots, have been identified as the victims of Monday's plane crash.

Monday, February 8, 2010

Two Die As Plane Crashes into Wash

According to a San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department news release, on Monday, February 8, 2010 at 12:53 p.m., Sheriff’s Dispatch received several calls regarding a plane that had just crashed in the Santa Ana River wash just north of the Redlands Airport. Witnesses stated they saw the plane doing aerobatics when, for unknown reasons, it appeared to lose altitude and crashed. Upon arrival deputies confirmed the two occupants were deceased.

Sheriff’s Aviation Division, FAA and NTSB are currently at the location and the investigation is ongoing to determine if the aircraft experienced some type of malfunction prior to the crash.

The names of the victims are being withheld at this time pending notification of next of kin but have been confirmed as members of the California Air National Guard.

Saturday, February 6, 2010

Police Blotter: Man Shot, Killed Outside Party

According to a San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department news release, on Saturday, February 6, 2010, at about 0051 hours, the Highland Police Station received a report of multiple shots heard in the area of the 7900 block of Primrose in the city of Highland. Deputies arrived and were flagged down at Primrose and Mossway by a resident who located a subject down in the front yard.

CAL FIRE arrived to render medical aid and pronounced the victim deceased at the scene. The Highland Police Station requested the assistance of the Specialized Investigation Division, Homicide Detail to assist in the investigation. Sheriff’s Homicide Investigators responded and are currently conducting the investigation.

The victim, Christopher Johnson, was positively identified and next of kin was notified. Investigators determined Johnson had just left a party in the 7900 block of Primrose just prior to being shot. The investigation is continuing and no further information is available for release.

Anyone with information is urged to contact Detective John Gaffney or Sergeant Tony De Cecio at (909)387-3589. Those wishing to remain anonymous may contact We Tip at 1-800-78-CRIME (27463) or www.wetip.com.

Police Blotter: Two Held in Murder Attempt

According to a San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department news release, on Tuesday, December 29, 2009 at 6:34 p.m., a Central Station patrol deputy was in the 7400 block of Tippecanoe in Highland enroute to Central Detention Center in San Bernardino with an arrestee in the back seat of his patrol unit when the back window was suddenly shot out. The bullet narrowly missed the deputy and the arrestee received minor injuries from broken glass. The deputy was not able to immediately identify who had shot out the window to his patrol car.

Central Station detectives conducted an investigation with the help of the Valley Gang Enforcement team. Several leads led to the identity of the possible shooter(s) and on Saturday, February 6, 2010, the Valley Gang Team served a search warrant at a residence in the 7600 block of Elmwood Court in Highland. During the search, investigators located the weapon, a sawed-off 20 gauge shotgun, used in the assault .

Investigators learned the suspects were angry over a perceived mistreatment by a Sheriff’s Deputy during a previous incident and decided to take their anger out on any Sheriff’s deputy they saw. The deputy who was fired upon was not related to the previous incident and just happened to be driving down the road when the two suspects decided to try to kill him.

Nineteen-year-old Oscar Guevara and a 17-year-old juvenile were taken into custody. Guevara was booked into Central Detention Center and the juvenile was taken to Juvenile Hall in San Bernardino. Both are charged with Attempt Murder of a Peace Officer, Conspiracy and Weapons Violations. Both will also receive gang enhancements for participation in a criminal street gang.