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Fresno Leader

Sunday, May 5, 2024

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Laton Man Arrested for Child Endangerment; Animal Cruelty Charges Pending the Investigation

Deputies have arrested 41 year old Carl Joseph Mendes of Laton on a misdemeanor charge of child neglect. Mendes will likely face charges of animal cruelty soon.On Friday, someone passing by the area of W. Mt. Whitney and Chestnut Avenues in Laton reported noticing deceased animals at a family farm. Deputies arrived and contacted Mendes, where they discovered approximately 300 animals malnourished and not properly cared for, with dozens of animals found deceased.Members of Fresno Humane Animal Services responded to the scene to investigate and will determine the...

By Fresno Leader | May 3, 2024

Local Government

Malaga Homicide Victim Identified

The homicide victim discovered in Malaga on April 30th, 2024, has been identified as 43-year-old Jonathan Franco of Fresno.According to the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office, the victim, Jonathan Franco, was found with a gunshot wound to the upper body in an alleyway on S. Frank Ave. Homicide detectives and the Crime Scene Unit responded to the scene to investigate the incident.Detectives are currently investigating the case as possibly gang-related, as no suspect has been identified yet. The Sheriff’s Office is urging anyone with cameras in the area to come forward and...

By Fresno Leader | Apr 30, 2024

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Notice of Fresno County CAL-ID RAN Policy Board Meeting on May 3, 2024

By Fresno Leader | Apr 30, 2024

The Fresno County CAL-ID RAN Policy Board has announced a public meeting scheduled for May 3, 2024, at 10:00 am. The meeting will take place at the Fresno County Sheriff's Office Civil Unit Training Room located at 770 E. Shaw Ave., 3rd floor, Fresno, CA 93710.The objective of the meeting is for the RAN board to determine the placement of RAN equipment within the county, coordinate the acceptance, delivery, and installation of the equipment, as well as develop procedures for the ongoing use and maintenance of the equipment in accordance with departmental guidelines.For...

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Detectives Investigating Murder of Coalinga Teenager

By Fresno Leader | Apr 17, 2024

Coalinga, California - Detectives are currently investigating the tragic murder of a 16-year-old boy in Coalinga. The incident took place on Tuesday, April 16th, at around 9:20 pm on the 200 block of E. Houston Street.According to reports, the Coalinga Police responded to a call about shots fired and discovered the teenager with gunshot wounds. Despite being rushed to Coalinga Regional Medical Center, the young victim succumbed to his injuries.In response to this homicide, the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office has been called in to lead the investigation. Homicide...

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Detectives Arrest Two Related to Del Rey Shooting

By Fresno Leader | Apr 17, 2024

Detectives assigned to the Multi-Agency Gang Enforcement Consortium (MAGEC) have arrested two individuals in connection with a shooting incident in Del Rey. According to reports, the suspects, identified as a juvenile and a young adult, have been taken into custody following the incident on the 5600 block of S. Oak Lane in Del Rey.Following the shooting on Tuesday, April 16th, where a young man was found with gunshot wounds, MAGEC detectives took over the investigation and successfully apprehended the two individuals involved. The young man was promptly taken to Community...

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Detectives Capture Carjackers in Fresno County

By Fresno Leader | Apr 11, 2024

Deputies with the Fresno County Sheriff’s Property Crimes Unit, the Ag Task Force, and the SWAT team successfully captured two wanted suspects involved in a carjacking incident. The suspects, identified as Cecil Love and Mercedes Donez, were apprehended in Lemoore after a search operation in the Riverdale area.According to the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office, 34-year-old Mercedes Donez of Riverdale and 27-year-old Cecil Love of Hanford were taken into custody on active arrest warrants. Donez was booked into the Fresno County Jail for charges including carjacking, assault...

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Court Security Catches Woman Carrying Baby and Gun

By Fresno Leader | Apr 9, 2024

Deputies in Fresno County have arrested 24-year-old Lizeth Alaniz Perez of Selma after she was caught carrying a loaded handgun into the Fresno County Superior Courthouse. The incident took place on Tuesday when Perez entered the courthouse's main lobby with her infant and diaper bag. As her bag passed through the security screening station, a sheriff’s community service officer detected the gun, leading to Perez's arrest and booking into the Fresno County Jail on several felony gun-related charges. Her bail has been set at $266,000.Following the arrest, deputies...

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Detectives Arrest Murder Suspect

By Fresno Leader | Apr 3, 2024

Homicide detectives with the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office, assisted by members of the U.S. Marshals Service Fugitive Task Force, successfully located and apprehended 36-year-old Angel Edward Gaytan in Fresno. Gaytan, who had an active warrant for his arrest in connection to a recent murder, was taken into custody at a residence near Olive and Parkway in Fresno.The arrest of Gaytan stems from an incident that occurred on Sunday, February 18th, when EMS personnel discovered the body of 37-year-old Dominic Greco in Fresno. Following the discovery, deputies and homicide...

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Operation Boogeyman Leads to the Arrests of 14 Potential Sexual Predators

By Fresno Leader | Apr 2, 2024

A total of 14 men have been arrested and booked into the Fresno County Jail on various charges related to arranging to meet with a child for sex.According to a statement from the authorities involved in the operation, "The majority of arrestees have since posted bond, been assigned a court date and released from custody."The arrests were the outcome of a collaborative effort named “Operation Boogeyman”, which took place from October 18th – 20th, 2023. The operation involved members from 17 different local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies.Explaining the...

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Homicide Detectives Identify Suspect; Seek Help Finding Him

By Fresno Leader | Mar 26, 2024

Homicide detectives with the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office have identified 36-year-old Angel Edward Gaytan as the man responsible for committing a recent murder. According to the authorities, Gaytan is believed to be transient and frequents the area of McKinley Avenue and Chestnut Avenue in Fresno.The victim, 37-year-old Dominic Greco of Clovis, was found deceased on February 18th near Chestnut and Harvard Avenues in Fresno. Fresno County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that Greco's injuries indicated foul play, leading to the investigation being classified as a homicide....

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Narcotics Detectives Seize 200,000 Fentanyl Pills in Fresno County

By Fresno Leader | Mar 21, 2024

Narcotics detectives from the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office Special Investigations Task Force (SITF) have successfully intercepted a large quantity of dangerous pills in a recent operation. A 25-year-old individual identified as Miguel Romero Reyes from Seattle, WA, has been apprehended in connection with the case.Reyes has been arrested on felony charges of possession of drugs for sale and is currently held in Fresno County Jail on a $200,000 bail. The arrest came after a deputy stopped Reyes on Interstate 5 at Highway 33 near Coalinga and discovered his involvement in...

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Two Children Die in House Fire Despite Mother’s Frantic Efforts to Save Them

By Fresno Leader | Mar 18, 2024

Two children, an eight-year-old boy, and his seven-year-old sister tragically lost their lives in a house fire on Sunday morning. The family has revealed that both children had been diagnosed with Autism, although their names have not been disclosed.Upon receiving reports of the fire along the 12400 block of Kamm Ave. in Kingsburg, Fresno County Sheriff’s dispatchers immediately dispatched Cal Fire firefighters to the scene. The mother of the children was reported to be frantically trying to save them by ramming a vehicle into the engulfed home, prompting the dispatchers...

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Judge Sentences Woman to Life in Prison Without Parole for Kidnapping Plot

By Fresno Leader | Mar 18, 2024

A Fresno County Judge has sentenced 48-year-old Sandra Garcia to life in prison without parole for her involvement in a kidnapping plot that took place in 2016. The case culminated in the torture and sexual assault of a 13-year-old girl from Clovis.Garcia orchestrated the kidnapping, involving her cousin, Miguel Carriedo, and her two sons, Mark Roque and Brandon Roque, to carry out the disturbing plan. It was revealed that Garcia's motive behind the heinous act was to intimidate the young girl into leaving her home in Clovis, where Garcia and the child's father resided....

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Deputy Recovers $5 Million Worth of Stolen Computer Equipment

By Fresno Leader | Mar 6, 2024

A sheriff's deputy in California has made a significant discovery, recovering stolen computer equipment valued at $5 million. The incident took place on February 28th when the deputy conducted a vehicle stop on a 2013 Nissan van on Interstate 5 near the Highway 33 turnoff. The driver of the van, identified as 49-year-old Manuel Romero Acosta, raised suspicions leading to a search of the vehicle.Upon searching the van, the deputy found numerous boxes of new computer components. Uncertain if the items were stolen, the van was towed to a storage facility while the...

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Off-Highway Vehicle Grant Application 2024 Now Open for Public Comment

By Fresno Leader | Mar 5, 2024

The FCSO has announced the commencement of the 2024 Off Highway Motor Vehicle grant application, open for public comment from March 5, 2024, through May 4, 2024. The Sheriff’s Office is seeking state funding to support law enforcement activities on Off Highway Trails.According to The State of California, the annual OHV Grants Program provides financial assistance to various eligible agencies and organizations, including federal, city, county, and nonprofit entities. This funding aims to aid in the development, maintenance, operation, expansion, and support of well-managed...

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Homicide Victim Identified; Detectives Seek Public’s Help to Identify Killer

By Fresno Leader | Mar 4, 2024

Members of the Fresno County Sheriff’s Crime Scene Unit have identified 43 year old Cesar Quezada of Sanger as the victim of a recent homicide."Around 5:30 a.m. on Saturday, March 2, 2024, deputies responded to a call of shots fired on the 3100 block of S. Indianola Ave. in Sanger." "Deputies and EMS provided life-saving efforts, but the man died.""Homicide detectives are still gathering specifics behind the motive, but do believe this was an isolated incident, not a random act of violence.""Anyone with information about this case is asked to please contact...

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Area Two Substation Holds Ribbon Cutting Ceremony

By Fresno Leader | Feb 28, 2024

On February 28, 2024, the Fresno County Sheriff's Office celebrated the official opening of its new Area Two Substation with a ribbon-cutting ceremony. The substation, located on a 6 ½ acre parcel of land along N. Armstrong Ave. in southeast Fresno, boasts impressive features, as highlighted by the Sheriff's Office spokesperson who stated, "It features 22,700 square feet of office space and a 35,500 square foot vehicle storage building."Although the facility began operations in October 2023, the formal ceremony was postponed to allow for final construction touch-ups. As...

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Detectives Arrest Home Invasion Robbery Suspects, Recover Stolen Property

By Fresno Leader | Feb 28, 2024

Property crimes detectives with the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office have arrested 21-year-old Demetrius Williams of Fresno and 19-year-old Joseph Lepe of Fresno. Both have been booked into the Fresno County Jail on charges of robbery. Their bails are set at $280,000 each.On January 24th, 2024, deputies responded to a home invasion robbery on the 8000 block of S. Bryan Ave. near Raisin City. "Two men held the victim at gunpoint and robbed him of his vehicle, cash and cell phones. Both fled the house. The victim was not physically injured," said the authorities.Property...

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Amount of taxpayer-funded subsidies plummet in cities associated with Fresno County in 2021

By Fresno Leader | Feb 27, 2024

Farms throughout cities in Fresno County received $218.7 million less in subsidies in 2021 from the U.S. Department of Agriculture compared to the year before.

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Detectives Arrest Duo in Robbery of Online Merchandise Seller

By Fresno Leader | Feb 23, 2024

Property crimes detectives from the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office have made significant progress in a recent case involving the robbery of an online merchandise seller. Two individuals, 18-year-old Cesar Flores of Riverdale and 18-year-old Dominique Diaz of Fresno, have been apprehended in connection with the crime.The incident, which occurred on November 25th, 2023, involved a man being robbed at gunpoint for a designer sweater he was selling as part of an online transaction. Following the report, detectives diligently pursued the case, leading to the identification of...