Deputies chase drunk suspect through Hilmar

A suspected drunken driver led Merced County Sheriff deputies on a high speed chase through Hilmar early Tuesday and ended up being apprehended as he and his three passengers tried to hide on a rural piece of property.

Youth soccer embezzler gets two years in prison

Anita Ybarra, the Keyes woman convicted of stealing several thousands of dollars from the Turlock Youth Soccer Association, was sentenced to two years in prison Monday in Stanislaus County Superior Court.

Marijuana bust at Delhi trailer

A report of trespassing and possible utility theft, led Merced county Sheriff's deputies to a large scale marijuana grow operating out of a Delhi home.

Sheriff warns of phony detective trying to get personal data

The Stanislaus County Sheriff's Department is warning to be on the lookout for a man impersonating a detective with the department.

Fire fighter victim of auto burglary

Two Turlock men landed in jail Friday morning on the suspicion they broke into a vehicle at the Turlock Rural Fire Department.

New online options for sheriff’s department

In an effort to improve their public access and efficiency, the Stanislaus County Sheriff's Department has launched a new Web site that will allow for online reporting of some crimes.

Man jailed for golf cart thefts

The mystery of the disappearing golf carts from the Turlock Golf and Country Club came to a likely close Dec. 24, with the arrest of a suspect in the thefts.

Gun discharge lands three in jail

Three Ballico men started the New Year off by sitting in a Merced County Jail cell for shooting a gun into the air.

County sees increase in DUI arrests

The campaign to take drunken drivers off the road during the busy holiday season saw an increase in the number of arrests, according to the latest figures released by the Turlock Police Department.

Proactive policing key to 2010 success

The Journal asked Turlock Police Chief Gary Hampton to look back at 2010 and ahead for 2011. The following is his perspective on the city's past and future. Q. What successes did the Turlock Police Department have last year?

Protecting the community, despite devastating cuts

The Journal asked Stanislaus County Sheriff Adam Christianson to look back at 2010 and ahead for 2011. The following is his perspective on the county's past and future. Q. What successes did the Stanislaus County Sheriff's Department have last year?

Teen arrested for beating up younger brother

A sibling argument turned serious when a 13-year-old Winton girl hit her 12-year-old brother hard enough to send him to the hospital.

Undersheriff retires

Stanislaus County Undersheriff William "Bill" Heyne will be retiring from the sheriff's department on Jan. 4, 2011, it was announced this week.

DUI offenders face stiff penalties

Drunk or high drivers charged with Driving Under the Influence face steep, state-mandated penalties – even for first-time offenders.

Avoid the 12 agencies conduct first ever ignition interlock device compliance check

Local law enforcement agencies are making a statement: If you drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs, you will be caught and convicted. And once convicted, you will be held accountable for the terms of your court-ordered probation.

Hoyt recounts details of fatal fight

In an effort to disprove the murder charge looming over him, Michael Hoyt took the stand Tuesday to tell the jury his recollection of the altercation on a rural Turlock road on Feb. 1, 2010, that ultimately ended in the death of Kenneth Winter. Hoyt is facing a second-degree murder charge for the death of 67-year-old Winter. The Stanislaus County District Attorney's Office case against Hoyt alleges he was so upset over a ...

Bomb scares prompt school lockdown, road closure

Two suspicious devices found Morning morning on Lander Avenue prompted a school lock down and a road closure as the county bomb squad investigated. Cunningham Elementary School was put on a lock down for several hours and Lander Avenue between Linwood and Glenwood avenues was closed to traffic for part of the morning and afternoon. The school was put on lockdown just as a precaution. Neither device turned out to be ...

THS fire causes $4k in damages

A fire in a small bathroom next to the Turlock High School library caused approximately $4,000 in damages, according to the Turlock Fire Department report. School was in session when the call went out that heavy black smoke was seen coming from the Turlock High School library at 11:59 a.m. Tuesday. Four engine companies and 15 firefighters responded to what turned out to be a small fire in a bathroom, and it was ...

DA questions credibility of only witness to fatal roadside beating

After more than a week's worth of testimony that sought to lay out point by point the evidence that led investigators to arrest Michael Hoyt for murder in the death of Kenneth Winter and discredit the defense's theories, the prosecution brought their case to a close Friday. The defense's response was to ask for the entire case to be dismissed based on a lack of evidence. Defense attorney Frank Carson said he ...

Turlock business owner tracks stolen truck; fights armed thief

When Dale Falkenberg, owner of Dale's Guitar, discovered that his truck was stolen in the early morning hours on Monday, he immediately started a Valley wide search. That search, which included a call out to 1,000 Facebook friends, resulted in a tip that his truck was in a Delhi parking lot. Eager to retrieve his truck, the Turlock music man headed to Delhi and eventually found his stolen vehicle at a convenience store. ...

Blood evidence presented at murder trial

The murder trial for the Turlock man accused of beating a man to death over a traffic incident continued Tuesday with a series of law enforcement witnesses testifying to the forensic evidence collected during the investigation. Michael Hoyt, 53, is on trial for second-degree murder for the murder of 67-year-old Kenneth Winter in February 2010. The Stanislaus County District Attorney's Office contends Hoyt was angered by Winter over a traffic incident on Paulson ...

Turlock man dies in Modesto crash

A two vehicle collision in east Modesto Monday morning resulted in the death of a 43-year-old Turlock man. The Stanislaus County Coroner's Office identified the deceased as Al Avila of Turlock. Avila was killed in a collision at Claribel and Bentley roads in Modesto, according to the California Highway Patrol. Avila was driving a 1999 Toyota Corolla westbound on Claribel around 7 a.m. Monday. Oscar Ibarra, 22, of Oakdale was driving ...

Dispute erupts into gunfire

Turlock men arrested for passing fraudulent checks

Two Turlock men were arrested Friday for allegedly passing fraudulent checks at a Ceres grocery store. A clerk at the Pine Street Market called police at 12:30 a.m. after a man attempted to cash a check that appeared to be suspicious. Donald Rush, 45, of Turlock, was apprehended by Ceres Police Detective Darren Venn after he left the store and was found in possession of fraudulent documents. He faces charges of forgery, ...

Key DA witness in Hoyt murder trial falters on stand

When Brooke Soares took the witness stand in the case against Michael Hoyt she was confident about what she had seen and heard when she drove upon two men clashing with one another in the middle of Paulson Road in Turlock on Feb. 1, 2010. By the time she left the witness stand she had admitted that on that day she described herself to a detective as "scatter-brained." In between and over ...

Police arrest Turlock grocer for child molestation

A Turlock grocer was arrested Wednesday night on allegations he molested a child over the span of several months. Sadik Algharazi, 37, of Turlock was taken into custody and gave a statement to the Turlock Police investigators prior to being booked into the Stanislaus County Jail on suspicion of child molestation. According to the Stanislaus County Recorder's records, Algharazi is the owner of Sid's Oasis Market on East Avenue in Turlock. ...

Police apprehend two in break-in

One man and one teenager are facing burglary charges after they were caught coming out of a Turlock home with property from the residence. Isaac Hensley, 20, and a 16-year-old juvenile were charged with burglary following Thursday's capture. Around 10 a.m. a neighbor in the 400 block of Sherri Way reported a possible break-in at a nearby home. Officers arriving at the scene found the pair leaving the home with some ...

Man punches elderly relative

A 67-year-old woman is recovering from injuries she sustained after being punched by a 42-year-old man. The suspect, identified as James Monroe, is facing a charge of elder abuse, according to the Turlock Police Department. Two callers contacted the police department around 7 p.m. Saturday and reported seeing a man punch an older woman while sitting in a vehicle in the 2700 block of Monte Vista Avenue. The victim was able ...

Three stabbed in Turlock street fight

A brawl between several individuals in the middle of a Turlock street resulted in three people being treated for stab wounds. The incident, which remains under investigation by the Turlock Police Department, was reported around 8:50 p.m. Monday in the 500 block of Wolfe Avenue. Most of the individuals involved in the fight had fled the scene by the time Turlock Police officers arrived. The officers did find one man with a ...

Murder trial underway for road rage beating

In his dark gray suit, eyeglasses and his graying hair and beard trimmed short, Michael Hoyt is hardly recognizable as the man who was arrested three years ago and charged with the brutal beating death of a 67-year-old man. Just as unrecognizable are the final photographs taken of Kenneth Winter, which show a bruised and swollen face, a far different picture of the man who left his Denair home the morning of Feb. ...