Local News

Murder Suspects Arrested in Stereo & DJ Outlet/Mari’s Jewelry Murder

FRESNO - On Saturday, August 5, 2017 the Fresno Police Department dispatch received a Shot-Spotter notification at Stereo & DJ Outlet/Mari’s Jewelry store on the 4000 block of East Kings Canyon. Fresno PD dispatch then received a call of a shooting victim at the same location. Officer’s arrived at the business and found the male adult victim had sustained gunshot wounds. Officer’s and EMS personnel provided first aid/CPR to the victim, who was then transported to CRMC. The victim, Christopher Leon (22) succumbed to his injuries shortly after he arrived at the hospital.

Homicide Investigators obtained information about the shooting. Suspects entered the business and looked at jewelry. The suspects attempted to run out of the business with the jewelry and were confronted by the stores employees. During the robbery, the business employees and suspects were involved in a physical confrontation outside the store. One of the suspects produced a firearm and shot the victim during the incident. The suspects fled the area in a vehicle.

DA Clears Madera Police Officer in OIS of Mentally Ill Suspect

MADERA – The Madera County District Attorney announced Monday that he has completed his investigation of the June 16^th officer involved shooting of a mentally ill suspect that posed a threat to the safety of the general public and police officers at his mother’s home.

The shooting happened around 6:45 pm. that Friday evening near Wessmith Way and Lake Street in Madera. Officer’s say Sergio Manuel Valdovinos (32) broke into a resident's car and was smashing the windows of other vehicles when they arrived. He then forcefully swung a four-foot long shovel handle at police officers several times while holding a “shield” before a Madera Police Officer fired his department issued handgun eight times at the suspect.

Downtown Fresno Policing Unit Arrest Gang Member with Stolen Firearm

FRESNO - Earlier this morning Fresno Police Officers Eric Hull and Matthew Besoyan, who are assigned to the Downtown Policing Unit, were working proactive patrol at the Travel Inn and Suites in the Parkway area of Southwest Fresno. The officers conducted a probation compliance check at the hotel room of Dana Macklin, who is a Fresno resident and known to frequent the Parkway area. Macklin is on probation for a narcotics related offense.

Downtown Policing Officers Robert Saenz and Sean Morris began to assist in the investigation and a probation compliance check was conducted in the hotel room where Macklin was staying. During the search of the room, officers located a 9mm semi-automatic handgun that had a laser attached to it. In addition, several 9mm hollow point style ammunition rounds were located for the firearm.

Proactive Policing Takes Another Criminal & Gun Off Fresno Streets

FRESNO - Officers from the Fresno Police Department were conducting proactive patrol Monday in the area of Parkway and Belmont Avenue. They observed a Jeep traveling eastbound at Belmont Avenue and Highway 99 traveling at a high rate of speed. The vehicle made an evasive turn without signaling into a gas station which was closed for business.

A traffic enforcement stop was conducted for the violation and to investigate what purpose the driver had at the closed business. The driver was identified as John Graves (27). After a records check, Graves was found to be unlicensed and on court probation. Graves was also open to search and seizure. After a probation compliance search, Officers located a Taurus .45 caliber handgun in a backpack in the rear of the SUV.

CHP Officer Shoots Unarmed Man Following Carjacking: Officer Involved in Federal Excessive Force Lawsuit

MADERA COUNTY – Sunday afternoon a California Highway Patrol officer shot an unarmed man on Avenue 12 just behind the Branch & Vine Barn, an event venue where a kids party attended by approximately 100 people was taking place. CHP were in the area responding to a carjacking that took place at a gas station at Avenue 15 and Highway 41 when the officer noticed the stolen vehicle crashed approximately three miles from the carjacking on Avenue 12.

The man, described only as Hispanic and wearing all black, was covered in dirt and alternating walking and running west. ”The suspect was actively attempting to evade law enforcement officers as California Highway Patrol Officers and an Air Unit pursued him”, said Madera County Sheriff’s spokesman Kayla Serratto in a prepared press release.