THEFT OF BOTTLE NETS CHARGES: CERES - Two Ceres men face burglary charges after allegedly attempting to steal a bottle of brandy and then threatening the store manager when he tried to stop them.
John Barnett, 23, and James Barnett, 22, were arrested and booked on charges of burglary and petty theft.
Ceres Deputy Police Chief Mike Borges said the crime occurred at 4:46 p.m. on Monday, March 17 at Cost Less Foods on Hatch Road. An employee spotted James Barnett carrying a bottle of brandy from the liquor display to an aisle while looking around and walked around the store to the produce area and exit through the front entrance. The store manager confronted the Barnetts outside the store. John Barnett gave the impression he had a gun as he reached for his waistband and asked, "You want some of this?" The manager called police. One suspect was located at Richland and Darby and the other nearby on Darby Lane as he was jumping fences.
Police originally sought robbery charges because the Barnetts made threatening gestures. No gun was seen.
MORE CHARGES ADDED: CERES - Gonzalo Curiel, 53, of Ceres, was in jail once again in recent weeks, this time with more serious charges. Curiel was spotted walking down Mitchell Road in the area of the Hope Chest at 12:21 a.m. on Friday, March 21. An officer thought Curiel looked under the influence since he was talking to himself. Curiel was known to the officer since he was arrested two weeks ago for possession of methamphetamine.
As he tried to run from the officer, Curiel tried to toss away a crack pipe, said Deputy Police Chief Mike Borges. During the arrest Curiel reached for his right rear pocket, but was told to stop and didn't. The officer then grabbed Curiel by the arm and told him to stop. That's when Curiel took a swing at the officer.
During a pat-down search, officers found in Curiel's pocket an open box cutter. He has been charged with battery on a police officer, unlawful possession of a weapon, being under the influence,possession of an illegal substance, and possession of drug parapheranalia.
CAR BURGLAR FLASHES GUN: CERES - A car burglary suspect evaded capture over the weekend after he stuck a gun in the face of the victim who was trying to halt him.
A 19-year-old man in the 1000 block of San Pedro Avenue was awakened by the sound of his car alarm at 3:58 a.m. Sunday. He got up and saw the suspect running from his driveway down San Pedro toward Morgan Road. During the foot pursuit, the suspect turned around and pulled a handgun from his waistband, saying, "Oh you want to get strapped, mother f----r?" The victim said the gun was possibly a 9mm handgun. He ended the pursuit but flagged down officers. He reported that the suspect was a bald-headed Hispanic male wearing a white T-shirt and blue jeans, standing 5-foot-10, and weighing 160 pounds.
Police did not find the man even with the use of a canine, said Borges.
A search of the crime scene showed that stereo equipment was removed from the car. The burglar also unscrewed light bulbs to darken the area where the car was parked.
PAROLEE BACK IN JAIL: CERES - A Ceres parolee was arrested Thursday, March 20 after an officer spotted him driving recklessly and he tried to lose the patrol car.
At 3:10 p.m. Officer Mike Perez attempted to stop Robert Harris, 25, as he was driving in the area of Central and Hatch. Harris fled westbound on Hatch Road and then turned north on Richland Avenue where he collided with another motorist at Nadine Avenue. Harris bolted on foot but was located in the 1600 block of Woodworth Avenue.
Harris was arrested for parole violation, evading arrest and being a felon in possession of a weapon (dagger).
John Barnett, 23, and James Barnett, 22, were arrested and booked on charges of burglary and petty theft.
Ceres Deputy Police Chief Mike Borges said the crime occurred at 4:46 p.m. on Monday, March 17 at Cost Less Foods on Hatch Road. An employee spotted James Barnett carrying a bottle of brandy from the liquor display to an aisle while looking around and walked around the store to the produce area and exit through the front entrance. The store manager confronted the Barnetts outside the store. John Barnett gave the impression he had a gun as he reached for his waistband and asked, "You want some of this?" The manager called police. One suspect was located at Richland and Darby and the other nearby on Darby Lane as he was jumping fences.
Police originally sought robbery charges because the Barnetts made threatening gestures. No gun was seen.
MORE CHARGES ADDED: CERES - Gonzalo Curiel, 53, of Ceres, was in jail once again in recent weeks, this time with more serious charges. Curiel was spotted walking down Mitchell Road in the area of the Hope Chest at 12:21 a.m. on Friday, March 21. An officer thought Curiel looked under the influence since he was talking to himself. Curiel was known to the officer since he was arrested two weeks ago for possession of methamphetamine.
As he tried to run from the officer, Curiel tried to toss away a crack pipe, said Deputy Police Chief Mike Borges. During the arrest Curiel reached for his right rear pocket, but was told to stop and didn't. The officer then grabbed Curiel by the arm and told him to stop. That's when Curiel took a swing at the officer.
During a pat-down search, officers found in Curiel's pocket an open box cutter. He has been charged with battery on a police officer, unlawful possession of a weapon, being under the influence,possession of an illegal substance, and possession of drug parapheranalia.
CAR BURGLAR FLASHES GUN: CERES - A car burglary suspect evaded capture over the weekend after he stuck a gun in the face of the victim who was trying to halt him.
A 19-year-old man in the 1000 block of San Pedro Avenue was awakened by the sound of his car alarm at 3:58 a.m. Sunday. He got up and saw the suspect running from his driveway down San Pedro toward Morgan Road. During the foot pursuit, the suspect turned around and pulled a handgun from his waistband, saying, "Oh you want to get strapped, mother f----r?" The victim said the gun was possibly a 9mm handgun. He ended the pursuit but flagged down officers. He reported that the suspect was a bald-headed Hispanic male wearing a white T-shirt and blue jeans, standing 5-foot-10, and weighing 160 pounds.
Police did not find the man even with the use of a canine, said Borges.
A search of the crime scene showed that stereo equipment was removed from the car. The burglar also unscrewed light bulbs to darken the area where the car was parked.
PAROLEE BACK IN JAIL: CERES - A Ceres parolee was arrested Thursday, March 20 after an officer spotted him driving recklessly and he tried to lose the patrol car.
At 3:10 p.m. Officer Mike Perez attempted to stop Robert Harris, 25, as he was driving in the area of Central and Hatch. Harris fled westbound on Hatch Road and then turned north on Richland Avenue where he collided with another motorist at Nadine Avenue. Harris bolted on foot but was located in the 1600 block of Woodworth Avenue.
Harris was arrested for parole violation, evading arrest and being a felon in possession of a weapon (dagger).
