Teens face robbery charges

Two teenagers are facing robbery charges after a shoplifting at a Turlock grocery store went awry.

Second downtown bank robbed

For the second time in a week, a downtown Turlock bank has been robbed and a suspect has gotten away with an undisclosed amount of cash.

Robber strikes Turlock bank

Police are seeking clues to the identity of the man who robbed a downtown Turlock bank Thursday afternoon.

Downtown bank robbed

The West America Bank at 241 West Main St., was robbed Thursday afternoon. The police were still on scene at 3:20 p.m., conducting the investigation and scouring the area for the suspect. The suspect was described as a black male adult about 6 feet tall with a mustache. He was wearing a blue striped shirt, black pants, a baseball cap and dark sunglasses. More details to follow as they become available.

Fraud seminar for nonprofits

The Turlock Police Department will be providing fraud prevention training for local nonprofit organizations at 6 p.m. tonight in the Yosemite Room at Turlock City Hall at 156 S. Broadway.

Woman robbed, beaten outside home

A woman unloading groceries in front of her home was pushed, kicked, and robbed by a young woman.

Balmy burglar bungles break-in

An overly fragrant thief alerted a Turlock woman to a burglary in her house, which ultimately led to the arrest of a 19-year-old man.

Public squabble leads to Ballico meth lab

Three Ballico residents were taken into custody Sunday afternoon by the Merced County Sheriff's Department on various charges stemming from the discovery of a methamphetamine lab.

Home invaders attack Denair men

Three men were bound, beaten, and robbed during a home invasion robbery in Denair Monday morning.

Turlock woman dies in Fresno crash

A Turlock woman was killed early Sunday morning in an auto accident on Highway 99 in Fresno that also injured three others.

Drunk driving arrests

The final tally for the Avoid the 12 holiday drunk driving crackdown is 146 arrests. The 146 DUI arrests occurred between Dec. 18, 2009 and Jan. 3, during which time, law enforcement from 12 different agencies conducted sobriety checkpoints, saturation patrols, and warrant sweeps. The Avoid the 12 program is funded by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Violence mars new year celebrations

The new year got off to a bloody and busy start for the Turlock Police department with three large fights reported over the first two days of 2010.

Thieving hands raise city’s burglary rates

It will come as no surprise to the thousands of victims to learn that burglaries are on the rise in Turlock.

Locust Street home set on fire, again

For the second time a vacant Turlock home has been the scene of a suspicious fire. Turlock City firefighters have twice put out blazes at 208 Locust St. within the last month. The latest fire was reported around 7:30 a.m. Thursday. The flames spread through the home's second floor, causing extensive damage. The fire was under control in 30 minutes, but crews remained on scene for several hours tamping out hot spots and clean-up. At ...

Christmas collision claims life of one man

A Ceres man was killed in a solo vehicle crash Christmas morning along a stretch of country road just outside of Turlock.

Drug deal gone bad results in shooting, arrests

Inmate attacks Merced Jail guard

A correctional officer at the Merced County Jail was injured by an inmate headed to court on a misdemeanor charge. The female deputy sustained injuries to her wrist, shoulder and face, said Merced County Sheriff spokesman Deputy Tom MacKenzie. The deputy was in the process of handcuffing 35-year-old inmate, Abel Ambrocio of Palo Alto, for court when he punched her in the face. MacKenzie said the attack was "without provocation or ...

Pit bull mauls toddler

A 3-year-old Winton boy sustained severe injuries when the family dog suddenly and viciously attacked him, the Merced County Sheriff's Department reported. The little boy was savagely bitten on his head and face, said sheriff spokesman Deputy Tom MacKenzie. The boy was flown to a hospital in Fresno and is expected to recover from his injuries, Mackenzie said. The attack was reported around 5 p.m. Monday in the 7000 block of ...

Father gets 15 to life for child’s death

A Dos Palos man was sentenced Monday in Merced County Superior Court to 15 years to life for the death of his 3-year-old daughter. Jericho Wright, 30, pled no contest to the charge of second degree murder in the death of Liadan Wright on Feb. 25, 2008. The Merced County Coroner's Office said Liadan died from multiple blunt force traumas to the head. She also had bruises to her shoulder and torso. ...

Father leaves son at restaurant, hits the bar

A Turlock man is unlikely to get a father of the year award after he left his son at a fast food restaurant so he could go drink at a bar. The incident began sometime around 8 p.m. Thursday when Montgomery Borba, 30, left his 9-year-old son unattended at the Jack in the Box at 100 N. Golden State Boulevard, while Borba went for drinks at Wellington's Station at 10 E. Main St. ...

Suspected shooter caught in S.W.A.T. standoff

The suspected gunman who wounded two people outside a Turlock home was apprehended early Monday morning after the Turlock Police Department Special Weapons and Tactics team used tear gas to flush him from his hideout. Manuel Maldonado, 19, of Turlock was taken into custody around 5:30 a.m. after a standoff with S.W.A.T. that lasted almost six hours. Maldonado was previously identified as the prime suspect in a shooting that occurred Oct. 22 ...

Plea deal possible for hit and run

The case against a Patterson woman accused of hitting a cyclist and leaving him to die on a Turlock road, will likely be settled with a plea deal. The victim's father, Jim O'Connor, said the family has been told a plea bargain is in the works for 22-year-old Vanessa Carrillo that will likely include a jail sentence of one year. "I fear that she will spend a lot less time in jail, ...

Theft conviction for former insurance agent

A former Hughson insurance agent, who was accused of bilking her clients, has been convicted of theft of fiduciary funds. Martha Jane Terry, 63, was convicted of one felony count of fiduciary theft by an insurance agent or broker. Terry was originally facing 33 felony counts of grand theft, embezzlement and theft of fiduciary funds. A Stanislaus County Superior Court judge sentenced Terry last week to serve 120 days in jail and ...

Search for shooting suspect continues

The teenager identified as the prime suspect responsible for shooting two people remains on the loose. The Turlock Police Department continues to search for Manuel Maldonado Jr., 19, of Turlock. Maldonado is wanted for the attempted murder of a 26-year-old man and a male teenager. He is considered armed and dangerous. Both victims were shot outside a home in the 600 block of Chestnut Street on the morning of Oct. 22. <p ...

Hit and run collision critically injures one

Sheriff SWAT wins award

Members of the Stanislaus County Sheriff's Office Special Weapons and Tactics Team recently participated in a multi-agency training exercise designed to challenge the skills, knowledge and abilities of tactical teams. Hosted by Alameda County Sheriff Greg Ahern and organized with the assistance of federal, state and local public safety partnerships, Urban Shield brought together 31 teams from all over California, the United States, Israel and the Kingdom of Jordan. Urban Shield is a one-of-a-kind ...

K-9 trials

The Modesto Police Department K-9 Unit will host the 29th Annual K-9 trials on from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. today. The competition will be held at Tuolumne River Regional Park, located at 1198 Tioga Dr., in Modesto. The Western States Police Canine Association sanctions this competition, which will feature approximately 35 K-9 law enforcement teams from throughout California. This is the end of the year trial and competitors will be vying for ...

Four charged with abalone violation

A Denair man was among four individuals arrested in Mendocino for exceeding an abalone limit. Bobby Dean Tickner, 51, of Denair was arrested along with Rudy Bart Acosta, 43, of Hickman, Ernest Ruiz Jr., 37, of Waterford and Ruben Meza, 39, of Vacaville. The men were arrested at a Fort Bragg motel after Mendocino County Sheriff's deputies arrived to investigate a sexual assault complaint. The alleged victim of the sexual assault declined ...

Two arrested for fast food robbery

A 21-year-old man and a 16-year-old boy were arrested Tuesday night for a robbery at a Turlock Jack in the Box. The fast food restaurant at 1951 Lander Ave. was robbed around 11 p.m. Tuesday. According to the Turlock Police Department, two masked suspects entered the store, jumped over the counter and stole an undisclosed amount of cash. The two suspects fled in a vehicle onto northbound Highway 99, but were ...

Delhi man faces murder charge for shooting son

The preliminary hearing for a Delhi man accused of shooting to death his son is slated to begin mid-November. Daniel McDonald, 67, has been held in custody at the Merced County Jail since his arrest on April 9, for the death of his 46-year-old son Donald McDonald. McDonald is facing a charge of first-degree murder. The preliminary hearing, which is being held to determine if there is enough evidence to hold ...