Kerwest Newspapers - Covering Western Fresno County Since 1906

Pursuit Leads to Arrest of Two Burglary Suspects

On Thursday, Sept. 6, at about 9:30 am, Fresno County Sheriff’s detectives conducting a follow-up investigation to a residential burglary in the 2000 block of S. Madera Ave. looked up to see the suspect vehicle driving past the residence.

The detectives immediately followed the suspects and attempted to pull them over. They failed to stop and a pursuit ensued. During the pursuit, two handguns were thrown from the vehicle. Detectives lost the suspects in the area of North and Goldenrod. Both weapons were recovered and were found to have been stolen in a prior burglary.

The investigation identified 35 year old Jesus Morales Barrera and 30 year old Alvaro Bravo, both of Biola, as being suspects in the burglary.

A subsequent search of both Barrera and Bravo’s residences revealed stolen property from several residential burglaries from the western Fresno County communities of Biola, Kerman, San Joaquin, and Caruthers.

The suspects were arrested by Sheriff’s deputies the following morning while trying to break into another residence located in the 4700 block of N. Fourth St. in Biola. Both were taken into custody without incident.

Jesus Barrera was booked into the Fresno County Jail on 20 counts of residential burglary, possession of stolen property, criminal conspiracy, resisting arrest, and probation violations.

Alvaro Bravo was booked into the Fresno County Jail on 20 counts of residential burglary, several counts of possession of stolen property, being armed in the commission of a felony, recklessly evading, criminal conspiracy and resisting arrest.

The investigation is continuing.

Anyone with information on this case is asked to contact the Fresno County Sheriff’s Area 1 headquarters at 693-2437, the Fresno county Sheriff’s department at 488-3111, or CrimeStoppers at 498-STOP(7867).

Traffic Accident

TOPSY-TURVEY - A traffic accident on Madera Ave. closed the southbound lanes for some time Saturday afternoon, Sept. 8.

A pickup, towing a heavy trailer full of construction debris southbound at Stanislaus lost control and the rig jackknifed, sliding up onto the sidewalk just south of the intersection.

The trailer wound up on top of the pickup, and a good sized tree was sheered off. Heavy equipment had to be brought in to clear the wreckage.

Crime Report Shows Numbers Down

Sept. 5 - There was good news for the City of Kerman when the City Council reviewed the mid-year Police Activity and Crime Report this evening..

Chief of Police Bill Newton said the numbers "Look quite nice," when compared to the same period of time last year.

Crime in the city was down for the firs tsix months of 2007, by about 21%, he said. This continues a general downward trend, although population growth was up 7.65 last year.

In detail, Newton said aggravated assault is down 50%, simple assault down seven percent, burglaries down 68%, auto theft down 18%, vandalism down three percent, and theft is down 24%

Narcotic arrests are even with last year, but arrests are up, due to the efforts of the department’s SID (Special Investigations Division).

The SID has served four search warrants and made 32 drug arrests, having a "significan impact" on drug trafficing in the Kerman area, Newton said.

The department is also putting extra effort into fight the gang problem. Officers have been given special training and have been ‘validating’ local gang members. The KPD has conducted two gang ‘sweeps,’ making four arrests. The department has also pushed to get gang members out of town, citing 12 evictions of criminal tenants.

Newton admitted Kerman is seeing some ‘fallout’ from other cities’ gang crackdowns, saying the department has identified a couple of Fresno gang members who have moved into the area.

There are criminal enhancements which can be applied with a gang member commits a crime, but membership itself is not a crime, so until the gang member commits a crime all the police can do is gather intelligence.

The council welcomed the report, with Mayor Pro Tem Richard Stockwell saying it sends a message to the criminal element that "we don’t want them in this comunity."

KPD Outlines New Truck Parking Regs

The Kerman Police Dept. has issued a statement for truckers, outlining recent changes in truck parking regulations.

In accordance with Kerman Municipal 10.12.083 truckers may only park semi-trucks and trailers on Commerce Way, Church Ave and Industrial Way.

Commerce Way is located between Madera Ave. and Vineland Ave. Church Ave is located between Madera Ave and Industrial Way and Industrial Way is located off of Church Ave.

Police say drivers may no longer park semis and trailers in the city limits on California Ave.

For more information contact the Kerman Police Department.

Man Killed in Ag Accident Near Kerman

A 51 year old San Joaquin man was killed last week while harvesting almonds west of Fresno.

On Aug. 14 at approximately 8:30 am, Fresno County Sheriff’s deputies responded to an injured person call in the area of 13250 W. Annadale Ave.

Abel Ramirez Castro had been harvesting almonds in an orchard near the address. While operating the almond harvester, an obstruction caused the hopper to stop working. When he attempted to clear the obstruction, Castro became caught in the hopper and was killed.

A co-worker discovered Castro a short time later and immediately called 911.

Castro had been employed by Weis Farms for approximately 8 years.