Weekend Checkpoints Net Nine Arrests

The Petaluma Police Department is reporting nine arrests as the result of two DUI checkpoints conducted over the weekend. Both checkpoints were conducted between 6 p.m. Friday and 3 a.m. Saturday, police reported. One was at Sonoma Mountain Parkway at Wellington Avenue and the other was on Petaluma Boulevard at Gossage Avenue, police officials said.

A total of 705 drivers passed through both checkpoints. Five people were arrested for driving under the influence. Police identified the drivers as Mark Tarca, 45, Laura Gavre, 67, and Anthony Delario, 36, all of Petaluma. Sandal Hastings, 36, of Cotati and Gary Hernishin, 64, were also arrested for DUI, police reported. Felix Soriano, 51, of Petaluma was arrested for allowing his child to drive without a license, according to Petaluma police.

6 Arrested Friday During DUI And Suspended Driver’s License Operation

Santa Rosa police arrested six people during a search of high-risk DUI and suspended driver’s license offenders on Friday. Officers served dozens of search warrants that ended in the arrest of the six individuals, who may face more jail time for the offenses, police said.

The six people arrested either failed to appear at a court hearing or violated their probation in an outstanding DUI case, according to police. Funding for the operation was made possible through a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Two Employees Force Entry Into Thrift Store To Extinguish Fire

Two people forced their way into a Santa Cruz thrift store that was locked to put out a fire at the business on Sunday afternoon. Firefighters responded to reports of smoke and flames at Grey Bears Thrift Store at 2710 Chanticleer Ave. around 1:30 p.m., Central Fire Protection District spokesman Mike DeMars said. Crews arrived to find the roof and north side of the building was on fire, DeMars said.

Thick black smoke was visible from several blocks away and the blaze was under control around 2 p.m., he said. No one was inside the locked building during the fire, according to Demars. Store employees said they smelled smoke in the area before fire crews arrived but could not determine where the fire was burning, he said. Shortly after, the employees saw smoke coming from the building and two employees forced their way inside to put out the flames with fire extinguishers, DeMars said.

The employees were not injured in the fire, he said. Investigators determined the fire started in a workshop area behind the store, according to DeMars. The cause of the fire is under investigation. Personnel from the Aptos/La Selva Fire Protection District and Santa Cruz Fire Department also responded to the fire.

Police Release Photos Of Theft Suspect Captured On Video Surveillance

Petaluma police are asking for the public’s help in identifying a man seen on video surveillance caught stealing a refrigeration unit last week. The theft happened at the rear of Petaluma Market at 210 Western Ave. on Aug. 31 around 2:45 a.m., police said.

The man fled with the unit on a basket mounted to the back of a bicycle, according to police. The suspect is described as a white man in his 50s with tattoos on both arms, police said. Anyone with information on the theft is asked to call Petaluma police at (707) 778-4373. Anonymous tips can also be left by calling (855) 847-7247.

Boy Attacked By Mountain Lion Was Isolated Incident, Child In Fair Condition

A mountain lion that attacked a 6-year-old boy Sunday afternoon in Santa Clara County on a hiking trail southwest of Cupertino was an isolated incident and the search for the animal continued until dusk, a state Department of Fish and Wildlife official said. The attack was reported around 1:15 p.m. on Montebello Road – a hiking trail near Pichetti Winery.

The boy’s parents allegedly had to physically fight off the lion away from him, state Department of Fish and Wildlife Lt. Patrick Foy said. The child was transported to Santa Clara Valley Medical Center for scratches and wounds consistent with lion attacks the department has investigated in the past, he said. Valley Medical Center spokeswoman Joy Alexiou said the boy was in serious condition but was upgraded to fair condition on Sunday evening.

The child suffered injuries that were not believed to be life-threatening, Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Sgt. Kurtis Stenderup said. Officials with the state Department of Fish and Wildlife, as well as sheriff’s deputies have closed all hiking trails in the area and established a perimeter, Stenderup said.

Crews assisted with trained dogs from the department will continue their search today, Foy said.

Mountain lions are “extremely rare” and Foy estimated there have only been more than a dozen reported attacks across the state in the past 100 years.

Anyone who encounters a mountain lion is advised to not run away but confront the cat by making noises, throwing objects and trying to appear larger.

More information on mountain lions is available online by visiting www.keepmewild.org.

Family Displaced By Structure Fire Caused By Electrical Problem

An electrical problem with a clothes dryer caused a fire in Pinole on Saturday that has displaced a family, according to the Pinole Fire

The fire in the 2500 block of Silvercrest Court was reported around 9:20 p.m., Battalion Chief Steve Akre said.

A woman who lived in the home was sleeping when the fire happened. She was alerted to the flames by an astute neighbor and escaped uninjured, Akre said.

Firefighters were able to contain the blaze to the garage, he said. Four engines, one truck and two battalion chiefs responded, and were able to contain the fire before it damaged any adjacent homes.

In the wake of this fire, Akre is reminding people the importance of having a working smoke detector. No firefighters were injured in the incident, Akre reported.

Elderly Man Knocked Unconscious At Park Last Week, Suspect At Large

Police are looking for the suspect in the assault of an elderly man knocked unconscious at a Hayward park during Labor Day weekend.

On Aug. 31 around 6:45 p.m., the 70-year-old man was collecting recyclables in the Pavillion picnic area of Kennedy Park where a group of about 10 to 20 men and women were having a party, police said. A woman from the group approached the elderly man and started a conversation with him, according to police. A man from the group then approached the elderly man and punched him, knocking him down to the ground, police said.

The elderly man was left on the ground as the crowd continued their party until his wife found him an hour later, according to police. He suffered significant brain trauma that may be permanent, police said.

As of Thursday, the man is in critical condition and hadn’t regained consciousness, police said. The suspect is described as a black man standing about 6 feet tall and weighing around 180 to 200 pounds. Anyone with information on the assault is asked to call Hayward police at (510) 293-7034 or Inspector Rob Lampkin at (510) 293-7079.

Pedestrian Killed On Hwy 580 Saturday Night Identified

A pedestrian struck and killed by two cars on Interstate Highway 580 in Livermore on Saturday night was identified Sunday as 20-year-old Oakland resident Andrew Logsdon, according to the Alameda County coroner’s bureau.

California Highway Patrol officers responded to a report of the incident on eastbound Highway 580 just west of First Street around 9:30 p.m. Logsdon is believed to have jumped off the Las Colinas Road highway overpass, the CHP reports.

Drivers of the two vehicles that hit the pedestrian have been identified by the CHP as Jose Martinez of Antioch and James Pomar of Mountain House. A Sig-alert was issued after 10 p.m. closing all but one lane on eastbound Highway 580, according to the CHP.  No arrests have been made in connection with this accident, CHP officials said.

Bay Bridge Clear After Crashes Involving Nine Vehicles

All westbound lanes of the Bay Bridge were clear Sunday afternoon following three separate crashes involving nine vehicles, according to CHP Sgt. Dianna McDermott.

The accidents occurred around 9:40 a.m. just west of the Yerba Buena Island tunnel, and resulted in periodic lane closures that backed up traffic for about 90 minutes, McDermott said.

Two people have been transported to local hospitals with minor injuries. The cause of the crashes is still under investigation, McDermott said.

Water Service Restored To Apartments After Main Break

Water service has been restored to an apartment building in Redwood City adjacent to a main break initially reported at 7:30 a.m. Sunday, according to Redwood City Police. The main break occurred in the area of Second Avenue and Rolison Road, according to police.

Tenants at 1102 Second Ave. were without water for several hours while crews worked to repair the water main. Police officials estimated that all repairs to the water line were completed around 1 p.m. The cause of the main break has not been determined, police officials said.

Police Arrest 3 On Gang, Gun Charges 

Two adults and one juvenile in Watsonville are now in jail on suspicion of gang activity and of possessing a loaded gun. Saturday around 6 p.m., Watsonville police were dispatched to Flodberg Park on Alvarado Street, on neighbors’ reports of a group of men drinking alcohol and smoking in the park.

Santa Cruz County Anti-Crime Team Gang Task Force Officers were nearby, and they also responded to the call. According to police, all but one of the group members ran in different directions when the officers arrived.

Ultimately, three people were arrested: Issac Avalos, 25, Andres Trejo-Gomez, 18, and a 17-year-old boy, all from Watsonville. In addition to charges of gang activity and possessing a loaded gun, Avalos and Trejo-Gomez have also been charged with contributing to the delinquency of a minor.

The gun was not registered, and was not reported stolen, police officials said. Avalos and Trejo-Gomez have been booked into Santa Cruz County Jail. Police report the 17 year old is now in juvenile hall, and that all three suspects were already on active probation.

U.S. Coast Guard Helped Intercept 10,000 Pounds Of Illegal Drugs During Recent Deployment

The U.S. Coast Guard cutter Waesche returned to its homeport in Alameda Saturday after completing a 14-week deployment.

During the deployment, the crew participated in counter-smuggling patrols, a multi-national maritime exercise and fisheries enforcement operations.

The crew helped intercept more than 10,000 pounds of illegal narcotics and six suspected drug traffickers.

Four Birds Test Positive For West Nile Virus

The Contra Costa Mosquito and Vector Control District announced Friday that four more birds have recently tested positive for West Nile virus. Two of the infected birds came from Brentwood, one from Walnut Creek and one from Oakley, according to control district officials.

The district is urging residents to report all dead birds by calling 1-877-WNV-BIRD. So far in 2014, 19 groups of mosquitoes, 13 chickens and 35 dead birds have tested positive for the virus, according to the district.

Boy Missing Since Saturday Morning Found Safe

The San Jose Police Department on Sunday morning located a 6-year-old boy who went missing Saturday morning. Police said Sergio Zepeda was found safe and has been reunited with his family. Zepeda was found at approximately 4:13 a.m. after a man living in a homeless encampment called police to report a child had stumbled into an area where several people were staying.

Several people at the encampment provided food and shelter to Zepeda until police arrived. Police said Zepeda was provided medical attention at the scene and was later transported to the hospital as a precautionary measure. Police said it does not appear any crime was committed in the child’s disappearance.

Weather Forecast For The San Francisco Bay Area

Cloudy skies and patchy fog are likely in the Bay Area this morning. Highs are expected to be in the 60s with southwesterly winds of up to 10 mph.

Partly cloudy skies are likely in the Bay Area this evening, with patchy fog after midnight. Lows are expected to be in the mid-50s, with westerly winds of up to 15 mph.

Cloudy skies and patchy fog are likely Tuesday morning. Highs are expected to be in the 60s to the lower 70s with westerly winds of up to 10 mph.

 

All Stories from Bay City News