Puppies shot and killed; police seek culprits

The Merced County Sheriff's Department is searching for the person who gunned down two puppies in Hilmar on Thursday.

Robber targets delivery driver

A delivery truck driver making his rounds at the Dairyland market in Hilmar was robbed at gunpoint.

Maximum DUI enforcement for fair

The Stanislaus County Avoid the 12 campaign against drunken driving will be conducting extra patrols and a checkpoint during the run of the Stanislaus County Fair.

Convenience store robbed

The Turlock Police Department is seeking the two men responsible for an armed robbery of a convenience store early Thursday morning.

Local businesses shafted by accused arsonist, restaurant owner

The chances of ever eating one of the Red Steer's locally renowned French dip sandwiches again took a nose dive on Tuesday when co-owner Tracy Smith was arrested for check fraud.

Suspect arrested for 2008 slaying

Nearly nine months after a man was found stabbed to death in a Turlock apartment complex, the Turlock Police Department has made an arrest in the case.

Red Steer owner charged with check fraud

Tracy Smith, the co-owner of the Red Steer restaurant implicated in the arson fire that gutted the Turlock eatery, was arrested again on Tuesday for check fraud.

Developmentally disabled man’s body found at Fox Grove

The body of a developmentally disabled man reported missing by his family on Monday was found Tuesday morning at a popular Hughson fishing hole.

Suspected drunk driving accident claims one life

One woman was killed and four others injured in a two vehicle collision that sent one vehicle plunging off the southbound Highway 99 embankment at Monte Vista Avenue, just after midnight Sunday.

Accident seriously injures one

A Modesto woman suffered a broken leg from a two vehicle collision Friday in Turlock. The accident occurred just before 8 a.m. in the area of N. Golden State Boulevard and Taylor Road. The names of the people involved in the wreck were not released. Turlock Police Lt. Jeff Lopes said a Lincoln Navigator was traveling eastbound on Taylor, when the 37-year-old male driver allowed the vehicle to drift into oncoming traffic. Coming westbound on ...

Bomb threat empties store

A call claiming a bomb had been placed inside the Turlock Wal-Mart resulted in a store evacuation, but no bomb was found, according to the Turlock Police Department.

Phony deputies try to get into house

A man and a woman posing as Stanislaus County sheriff's deputies tried to gain entrance into a Turlock residence, but fled when asked for identification.

Search warrants served in Delhi

Six people were arrested Tuesday in Delhi as part of an ongoing burglary investigation by the Merced County Sheriff's Department.

Livingston man arrested for sex acts with pre-teen

A 26-year-old Livingston man is under arrest on suspicion of child molestation. Hermino Martinez is suspected of having sexual relations with a 12-year-old Winton girl he considered his girlfriend, according to the Merced County Sheriff's Department. Martinez was arrested Monday afternoon in the 2900 block of Olive Avenue in Atwater. Martinez thought he was on his way to meet the 12-year-old girl, but instead found Detective Alex Barba and Deputy Ralph Zyskowski waiting for him, ...

Two drunk driving cases land man in prison

A Turlock man who has an admitted history of drunken driving, was sentenced to two years and eight months in prison for two cases of driving under the influence.

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 ...

Man crashes car into brother

Sibling rivalry took a violent turn Wednesday in Delhi when a man caused a vehicle to crash through his brother's home, trapping him in the rubble for nearly a half hour, the Merced County Sheriff's Department reported. The victim, a 38-year-old man, sustained unspecified injuries and was being treated at Emanuel Medical Center, said sheriff spokesman Deputy Tom MacKenzie. The suspect, Gene Hinds, 40, was taken into custody soon after the event ...