Local News

Burglars Caught in the Act, Surveillance Video Ties Suspect to Other Break-Ins

FRESNO - Property Crimes detectives with the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office have arrested 25-year-old Jarrel Garrett and 21-year-old Radaeja Howlin, both of Fresno. They have been booked into the Fresno County Jail and each one faces felony charges of burglary and probation violation. Garrett’s bail is set at $240,000 and Howlin’s bail is $80,000.

Around midnight on October 3rd, a woman made a 911 call to the sheriff’s office to report a burglary was taking place at her home located on the 300 block of W. San Ramon Ave. in Fresno. Deputies arrived and saw a man and woman (later identified as Jarrel Garrett and Radaeja Howlin) crawling out a front window, holding items they were attempting to steal.

Madera County DA Successful in Retrial of Speedy Phillips for 1977 Murder

MADERA - A Madera County jury this week found defendant Richard "Speedy" Phillips responsible for the robbery and murder of Bruce Bartulis and attempted murder of Ron Rose in 1977.

Phillips lured the unsuspecting Bartulis and Rose to Madera County from southern California for the purpose of robbing them. Once in Madera County, Phillips took them to a deserted area along the 99 freeway where he shot them 6 times, stole their wallets and property, doused them in gasoline, and set them on fire. Rose, who was still alive, was able to get away. Phillips then chased him down with his car and hit him.

Sheriff Asking Publics to Help in Search for Missing Fresno Man

FRESNO - Fresno County Sheriff's Deputies and volunteers with the Fresno County Search and Rescue (SAR) Team continue to search the wilderness for 65-year-old Hans Lamaack. He was last seen in the City of Fresno on August 30, 2019.

The Sheriff’s Office was made aware that he was missing on September 24th. On the 24th, deputies found Lamaack’s car, a 2001 Volvo. It was parked near Garnet Dike Campground, which is located along the upper Kings River near Balch Camp.

DUI Check Points in Fresno This Weekend

FRESNO - Officers from the Fresno Police Department will be out Saturday, October 12, 2019 looking for drivers suspected of driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs.

DUI saturation patrols will take place in areas with high frequencies of DUI collisions and/or arrests. In 2017, 1,120 people were killed in alcohol-involved crashes on California roads. In 2017, the Fresno Police Department investigated 360 DUI collisions which have claimed 15 lives and resulted in another 121 injuries.

Sixth Defendant Pleads Guilty in Firearm Trafficking from Tennessee to Kings County

FRESNO - Elvia Sanchez, 42, of Lenoir City, Tennessee, pleaded guilty today to conspiring to traffic in firearms by an unlicensed person, and the illegal transportation of firearms received in a state of residency, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced.

According to court documents, on Nov. 29, 2016, and June 12, 2017, Elvia Sanchez mailed firearms from Tennessee to Rafael Sanchez in California in connection with a conspiracy to traffic in firearms.