News

Inmate Charles Manson Dies of Natural Causes

CORCORAN – Convicted Murderer Charles Manson, 83, died of natural causes at 8:13 p.m. on Sunday, November 19, 2017, at a Bakersfield hospital in Kern County. Manson was admitted to state prison from Los Angeles County on April 22, 1971, for seven counts of first-degree murder and one count of conspiracy to commit murder for the August 1969 deaths of Abigail Ann Folger, Wojciech Frykowski, Steven Earl Parent, Sharon Tate Polanski who was eight months pregnant, Jay Sebring, Leno La Bianca and Rosemary La Bianca.

On December 13, 1971, Manson received a first-degree murder conviction from Los Angeles County for the July 25, 1969, death of Gary Hinman and another first-degree murder conviction for the August 1969 death of Donald Shea.

CDCR Offers $500 Reward for Information Leading to the Arrest of North Kern State Prison Walkaway

DELANO – California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) officials are offering a $500 reward for information leading to the apprehension of inmate Daniel Lucas Salazar.

Inmate Salazar, 31, was discovered missing from the Minimum-Support Facility at North Kern State Prison by custody staff on Friday November 3, 2017, at approximately 9:10 p.m. during an institutional count. Escape procedures were immediately activated, and notification was made to Kern County law enforcement agencies.

Career Criminal Team Nabs Car Thief with Drugs

FRESNO - On Wednesday, November 15 Detectives from the Career Criminal Auto Theft Team (CCATT) of the Fresno Police Department located a 2001 Chevrolet Malibu parked in the area of Broadway and Nevada. The Chevrolet was a reported stolen vehicle out of Central Fresno. Detectives began surveillance.

The Chevrolet later became occupied and drove from the area. Detectives followed it to the area of First and Ashlan where the driver was taken into custody.

Suspect Arrested in Tackle Box Killing, Victim Identified as Fresno State Student

MADERA – Sheriff Jay Varney announced today that one of the suspects from the robbery and murder at the Tackle Box Bait & Mini-Mart in Madera has been arrested. Armitraj Singh Athwal (22) of Modesto, was arrested by Fresno County Sheriff Deputies on an unrelated offense, near Kerman, just 40 minutes after the robbery and murder at the Tackle Box in Madera.

A Fresno County Deputy Sheriff saw media coverage of the incident on Tuesday and recognized some similarities between the suspects from the Tackle Box incident and the suspect they arrested on Tuesday morning. Madera County Detectives were contacted and follow up investigation revealed that Athwal is likely the suspect who shot the victim during the robbery.

Selma City Manager Charged with 13 Counts of Felony Misappropriation of Public Funds

FOWLER - David Lawrence Elias (56, of Fowler) has been charged in a Felony Complaint with thirteen (13) counts of Misappropriation of Public Moneys by a Public Officer, the Fresno County District Attorney’s Office announced today.

Mr. Elias was arrested by the Fresno County District Attorney’s Office Bureau of Investigations for allegedly using public funds for personal use. The DA's office says Elias purchased steaks, car tires, Disney tickets, Grizzlies tickets, pizza, SF Giants gear, tickets to see Garth Brooks, Blake Shelton, Paul McCartney, Keith Urban with the city's credit card.

Former Deputy Police Chief Sentenced to 4 Years in Prison For Conspiring To Distribute Heroin And Marijuana

FRESNO - U.S. District Judge Anthony W. Ishii sentenced former Fresno deputy police chief Keith Foster, 53, today to four years in prison for drug trafficking activity with family and friends, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.

Keith Foster resigned from his position on April 3, 2015, one week after his arrest. On May 23, 2017, a federal jury in Fresno found Foster guilty of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute heroin and conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute marijuana. Co-defendant Ricky Reynolds was sentenced today to 24 months of probation and six months of home detention.

Madera Police Department Targets Impaired Drivers with Checkpoint

MADERA - The Madera Police Department conducted a DUI/Driver License checkpoint last Friday in the City of Madera. During the check point Madera PD contacted 272 drivers and made 2 arrests for DUI.

In an effort to reduce the number of persons killed and injured in alcohol involved crashes, DUI checkpoints are conducted to identify offenders and get them off the street, as well as educate the public on the dangers of impaired driving.