Drug raid nets five arrests

An ongoing narcotics investigation in Stanislaus County resulted in the arrest of five people and the seizure of drugs, cash, and guns Wednesday morning.

Hearing set to begin for mother accused of leaving her baby in Dumpster

On Nov. 8, 2008, a newborn baby girl wrapped up in a plastic shopping bag with clothing and towels was found dead in a Dumpster behind a Turlock grocery store. The grizzly discovery launched an exhaustive investigation that culminated with the arrest of the baby's mother on a homicide charge.

Few clues to comfort family of missing Keyes man

Back in the middle of January, Robert "Bobby" Tennison drove up to Humboldt County with his 17-year-old son and a friend. The three sold a dirt bike, had lunch together, and then Tennison left to visit friends, telling his son he would be return home to Keyes by bus the following Saturday.

Candlelight vigil for homicide victims

The Stanislaus County District Attorney's Office Victim Services Program will sponsor the 12th annual lighting of the Homicide Victims' Memorial Tree and Candlelight Vigil at 6 p.m. Wednesday.

Citizens police academy

The Turlock Police Department will be hosting a Citizens Police Academy starting February of 2010, designed to give the participants a working knowledge of the department and the criminal justice system.

K-9 aids in arrest of shoplifter

A Turlock Police Department K-9 helped find the evidence that put a suspected shoplifter behind bars.

Dirt bike escape comes to a fruitless end

A 19-year-old Turlock man trying to out run a police officer while on a dirt bike was caught Saturday afternoon after a brief struggle.

Boyfriend charged with domestic violence

A dazed woman was found wandering a Turlock street Friday morning, saying she had been assaulted by her boyfriend.

Tip leads to stolen tanks

Several propane tanks stolen from the Hilmar area over the last week were recovered Tuesday at the Turlock flea market by the Merced County Sheriff's Department.

Red light runner causes crash

A woman who police say ran a red light, caused a collision that injured three, including a 13-month old baby.

Hilmar hit by propane thief

Twice in one week two Hilmar propane stores have been robbed of their tanks, the Merced County Sheriff's Department reported.

Robbery suspects apprehended

A 20-year-old man and a 17-year-old boy were arrested at gunpoint Wednesday afternoon for an armed robbery of a Turlock music store.

Abduction attempt reported in Denair

The Stanislaus County Sheriff's Department is investigating a possible kidnapping attempt in Denair of a high school student as she walked home Wednesday afternoon.

Man sustains head trauma in Winton bar beating

A 28-year-old man suffered a severe head injury after he was attacked by two to three men inside a Winton bar Sunday night.

Gun charges net prison time

A 19-year-old Turlock man was sentenced to six years in prison on illegal firearm charges, according to the Stanislaus County District Attorney's Office.

Witness paints a picture of self defense in Abbey trial

In the last day of testimony in the preliminary hearing for Kari Abbey, the defense put up a witness to debunk the criminal charge of murder lodged against the former sheriff's detective. The defense called Sally Pantoja to the stand Monday. Pantoja resided at the neighboring home on Donald Street at the time of the shooting and was a witness to the altercation leading up to the fatal encounter between Abbey and 31-year-old ...

Defendant given life sentence for role in murder

Alvaro Reyes, one of the men previously convicted for burning a woman to death over a drug debt, was sentenced to life in prison on Monday. Reyes was found guilty of Rosa Avina's murder in 2007. The prosecution said Reyes lured Avina to a Turlock home, where she was kidnapped and taken to an orchard. Bound and gagged, Avina was doused with gasoline and set on fire. She was able to walk to ...

Guns, marijuana part of Abbey prosecution case

In the third day of the preliminary hearing for Kari Abbey the prosecution continued their efforts to prove the former Stanislaus County Sheriff's detective was involved in numerous criminal activities, including the fatal shooting of a 31-year-old woman. Abbey's defense team, led by attorney Michael Rains, started presenting their case that Abbey acted in self-defense the night of the fatal encounter and that the Stanislaus County District Attorney's Office has unjustly targeted her ...

Court room packed in day one of murder hearing for former sheriff’s detective

Child molester sentenced

A 45-year-old man convicted of molesting children in Turlock was sentenced to prison Monday. David Montano of Coto De Caza, Calif. was convicted of two felony counts of lewd acts upon a child. Upon learning that her two younger sisters had been molested by Montano, a 24-year-old woman went to the Turlock Police Department in 2008 to report her sisters' molests, as well as her own, which began back in 1988. <p ...

Suspicious death reported at egg farm

The Stanislaus County Sheriff's Department is investigating the death of a man found at a Turlock egg supplier farm. The body was found Monday afternoon and the sheriff's department has not stated if it is a homicide investigation. The body did show signs of trauma, according to the sheriff's department. The name of the man or any other details, have not been released by the sheriff's department. The discovery was ...

Burglary suspect caught

A report of a suspicious person prowling in a Turlock neighborhood led to the arrest of a man on stolen property and drug charges. Around 2 p.m. Tuesday the Turlock Police Department received a report of a man sneaking around homes in the area of Marshall and N. Quincy streets. Officers arrived to find Derek Smith, 31, allegedly stealing gasoline, according to the police report. Smith had a small syringe ...

Phony claim of shooting puts schools on lockdown

A false report of a shooting prompted two Turlock schools to order lockdowns while police searched the area for the reported shooter. In the end, it was discovered the victim was hit with pepper spray during a domestic dispute and not shot, according to the Turlock Police Department. The incident began around 9 a.m. Wednesday when a man called 911 on his cell phone and told a dispatcher he had been shot. ...

Deceased baby found in garbage can

The Stanislaus County Sheriff's Department is investigating the death of an infant found inside a garbage can outside a convenience store in Waterford. The discovery was made at 9:22 p.m. Thursday at the Bait Barn at 12505 Yosemite Blvd. in Waterford. A man was searching for aluminum in the small garbage cans near the gas pumps when he made the gruesome discovery. The infant was wrapped in a blanket and appeared deceased, ...

Shooting reported

The Turlock Police Department is investigating a shooting that was reported late Sunday night. Individuals riding in a vehicle in the area of Fosberg Road and Christoffersen Parkway flagged down an officer at 11:49 p.m. and said they had just been shot at by a passing vehicle. The shooter's vehicle was described as a white Jeep Cherokee. The officer could see taillights ahead, but the vehicle was quickly obscured by the ...

Family asks for justice

Through choked back tears and quavering voices, the family of a slain Hughson man made an emotional appeal to a Stanislaus County Superior Court judge to send a convicted murderer to prison for the rest of his life. The family of Donald Futch delivered victim impact statements to the court Tuesday in the hopes of obtaining a lengthy prison term for Darren Merenda, 32, of Turlock. The sentencing hearing for Merenda is ...

Rash of burglaries mar holiday weekend

While people were out enjoying Thanksgiving feasts and taking advantage of holiday shopping deals, crooks were busying themselves with breaking into homes and vehicles around town. A rash of property crimes, especially burglaries, were reported throughout the city. Between Thursday afternoon and Tuesday afternoon there were 15 residential burglaries and three commercial burglaries reported in Turlock. Additionally, there were eight larcenies, three auto burglaries and four auto thefts reported in the same time ...

Shootings gang-related, says sheriff’s office

A possible gang fight near the Delhi Fire Department and shots being fired at a house and car on Wednesday could be related, reported the Merced County Sheriff's Department. Just after 8:30 p.m. on Wednesday, the Merced County Sheriff's Office was called to a possible gang fight near the Delhi Fire Department on Acacia Street. Deputy Ralph Zyskowski was in the area and saw a car driving erratically. It was weaving and running ...

Jury finds nut schemer guilty of fraud, money laundering

A former almond buyer at a Turlock nut processing plant was convicted on multiple charges tied to a long-term scheme to defraud local processors. After a two week trial a federal grand jury convicted Ronal John Salado, 59, of Modesto for conspiring to commit mail fraud and bank fraud, two counts of mail fraud, nine counts of bank fraud, and two counts of money laundering. According to the U.S. Attorney's Office, which ...

Electrical power surge leads to pot bust

A spike in electrical usage at a Turlock residence was the tip needed to lead the Turlock Police Department's narcotics enforcement team to an indoor marijuana growing operation. As a result of the investigation, the narcotics team arrested two individuals and seized several pounds of marijuana. The team was alerted to the residence in the 900 block of Domingo Court in Turlock, after unusual power readings were recorded, said police spokesman Lt. ...