Update:

The deputy has been treated and released.  The driver of the vehicle has been identified as Nicholas Sanchez Ensaldo, age 52 of Mexico.  He was arrested for driving under the influence and an INS hold. The passenger is his son Orlando Garcia Ensaldo, age 30 of Mexico.  He is still being treated and will be booked for attempted homicide. Both were residing in the Richgrove area.

Prior release:

On 08-21-2012 at approximately 2044 hours, a Sheriff’s Deputy assigned to the Porterville Substation conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle in the Ducor area on Road 192 near Avenue 48.   Two Hispanic male adults occupied the vehicle.  During the traffic stop at approximately 2101 hours, one of the occupants attacked the deputy with a hatchet and a struggle began. During the struggle the deputy defended himself and discharged his firearm, striking the suspect.  Both parties were taken to the hospital for treatment.

The Deputy has been with the Sheriff’s Department since June of 2010.  He was also a prior employee of the Tulare County Probation Office.  The deputy has been placed on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation.

The Public Information Officer, Sergeant Chris Douglass, is in route to the area and as additional information is available, updates will be posted.  She can be contacted at cdouglass@co.tulare.ca.us or 559-735-1832.

Anyone with information regarding this case is encouraged to contact the Sheriff’s Office at 800-808-0488.  You may also report your information anonymously through the TipNow program.  Text or leave a voicemail at 559-725-4194 or e-mail tcso@tipnow.com.

Update #2:
Information has been received that there were approximately 5 to 6 suspects at the residence.  The suspects were described as Hispanic males ranging in age from 20 to early 30’s.  These subjects spoke English with some Spanish and were wearing dark BDU military style clothing.  One suspect was armed with a rifle while the others were armed with handguns.  The suspects were associated with a grey or white moving truck similar to a U-Haul and a green van, possibly a 1990’s style similar to a Chevrolet Astro van.  The suspects took an unknown amount of marijuana from the location.  Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the Sheriff’s Office.

Update #1:
Information was obtained that the suspects had identified themselves as law enforcement upon entry into the home.  A badge was located at the scene.  The badge was not an official peace officer badge.

Prior Release:
On 08-21-2012 at approximately 0540 hours, the Tulare County Sheriff’s Office received a call of a possible kidnap in progress.  Deputies responded to the area of the 300 block of W. Wade in Tulare and were advised several armed subjects had forced entry into a home.  Three male adults were in the residence at the time.  One subject was able to flee the residence on foot and contact law enforcement also.  The suspect’s fled the scene in a vehicle. One victim received minor injuries to the head and was treated on scene.

Medicinal marijuana was located at the residence and the Sheriff’s Marijuana Suppression Team is investigating this portion of the case.  Violent Crimes detectives are also investigating the home invasion and possible kidnap.

The investigation is active and when additional information and descriptions are available an update will be issued.

Anyone with information regarding this case in encouraged to contact the Sheriff’s Office at 800-808-0488.  You may also submit your tips anonymously through the Sheriff’s TipNow program.  Send your information by text or voicemail 559-725-4194 or e-mail tcso@tipnow .com.  Reference case # 12-10924.

Suspects in custody:

1. Baltazar Rodriguez Zuniga, age 43 of Terra Bella

2. Carlos Adan Lupian, age 24 ofTerra Bella

3. Jose Guadalupe Rodriguez, age 18 of Terra Bella

4. Hector Quintero Mercado, age 34 of Mexico

5. Jose Guadalupe Zavala, age 32 of Mexico

6. Juan Carlos Perez Gonzalez, age 43 of Mexico

On 08-20-12 the Tulare County Sheriff’s Office S.T.E.P. Unit concluded one part of a three month investigation into a marijuana grow site in Terra Bella. S.T.E.P. detectives partnered with Federal Officers from the U.S. Forest Service to serve a search warrant and eradicate the grow sites at this location which were also tied to a large marijuana grow site in the National Forest.  Officers served a Federal Search warrant and detained the above listed suspects. Approximately 1,313 live marijuana plants were seized during the operation. If allowed to fully mature each of these plants would each yield in excess of one pound of usable marijuana bud with a street value over $3,000 per pound. 

In addition to the marijuana plants seized detectives also seized several firearms and ammunition for various pistols, rifles and shotguns.

This case is still under investigation by the TCSO STEP Unit.

Photos available on Sheriff’s Flickr page at:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/tularecountysheriff/sets/72157631168509158/

Videos available on the Sheriff’s YouTube page at:

http://www.youtube.com/user/TulareCountySheriff/videos

On 04-07-2012, deputies took a report of Identity Theft.  At that time, the suspect was identified as Philip Pontrelli (Later identified as John Ballard). 

During the investigation it was discovered that the suspect stole the identity of his girlfriend, and several of her family members.  He opened several checking accounts and obtained several credit cards under the stolen identities.

During the investigation the true identity of Philip Pontrelli was discovered to be John Ballard.  He was found to have an active felony warrant for Escape from the Colorado Department of Corrections.

On Friday, 08-17-2012, several detectives from the Tulare County Sheriff’s Department located and arrested John Ballard in the Porterville area without incident.  Ballard was booked into the Tulare County Porterville Sub Station for Identity Theft and for the active Colorado Warrant.

Anyone with information may contact Detective Joe Rodriguez at 559-782-9674

Suspect #1 Tammy Hudspeth       Female White

Suspect #2 Deborah Martinez      Female Hispanic

Suspect #3  Johnny Wiliam Martinez  Male Hispanic

Officers from the Exeter Police Department received a complaint of marijuana cultivation in the 600 Blk of S. Spruce Exeter. Investigators from the Inter Agency Narcotics Enforcement Team continued the investigation. A search warrant was served. The ensuing investigation and search revealed that the listed suspects were cultivating Marijuana under the guise for medicinal purposes and were taken into custody without incident. 434 marijuana plants in various stages of growth were eradicated. Had the marijuana been allowed to mature the estimated street value would have been $1,736,00.00. The investigation is continuing.

All suspects booked at their respective Tulare County Jail facilities on the listed charges.
Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the Tulare County Sheriff’s Department Narcotics Division/ INET  (559) 713-2950.

Photos available through the Main Jail.

Suspect: Miguel Deniz

On 08-17-12 the Tulare County Inter Agency Narcotic Enforcement Team, consisting of personnel from Lindsay P.D., Exeter P.D., Farmersville P.D. and the Tulare County Sheriff's Department concluded a three week narcotic investigation by serving a narcotic search warrant in the 100 block of E. Citrus in the City of Farmersville. The ensuing search and investigation located scales, packaging material, indicia related to the sales of narcotics and a sum of U.S. Currency. The suspect was out on bail on unrelated charges.
Suspect Miguel Deniz was arrested, transported and booked into the Tulare County Main Jail Facility for the listed charges.

This case is still under investigation. Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the Narcotics Division/ INET at 713-2950.

Photo available through the Main Jail.

Victim-1 Romero, Jose
Victim-2  Navarro, Jose
 
 
 On the above date and a Deputy from the Tulare County Sheriff’s Office was transporting inmates from the Tulare County Main Jail to the Bob Wiley Detention Facility. During the transport an inmate defeated his restraints and attacked two other inmates causing minor injury. Both victims were transported to Kaweah Delta District Hospital where they were treated and released for minor injury. This case will be submitted to the District Attorneys Office for review and filing of charges. The case is currently under investigation by the Tulare County Sheriff’s Office.

Suspect- Enrique Garcia Alaniz age 61 of Richgrove 

On 5/8/2012 the Tulare County Sheriff's Department Crimes against Children Unit was contacted by staff of the Richgrove Elementary School District. Detectives were advised that a confidential juvenile female reported that Enrique Garcia had been sexually assaulting her over the course of two months. During the investigation it was also learned two other juvenile females were sexually assaulted by the suspect. The assaults took place at the suspect’s residence in Richgrove. He was taken in custody on an arrest warrant for the above listed charges.

He is being held at the Tulare County Main Jail in lieu of $ 500,000.00 bail.

Anybody with additional information is encouraged to contact the Tulare County Sheriff’s Department Crimes Against Children’s Unit Sgt. Harold Liles or Detective Florence Cotton
559-735-1877.

Wednesday, August 15, 2012/ 1200 hours deputies responded to the area of the Kings Inn (Kingsburg) regarding suspects who removed a cash box from a mobile fruit stand in the area of Avenue 400 and Road 36 Kingsburg.  The victim had witness the suspects forcibly remove the metal cash box from his mobile fruit stand and drive away from the scene and arrived at the Kings Inn Motel. 

The victim followed the suspects’ and provided information to the Sheriff’s Department.  Upon arrival, Deputies located and arrested three suspects involved in the theft and recovered the cash box, burglary tools, and drug paraphernalia.  During the course of the investigations an unreported victim of a cash box theft had arrived and identified the second cash box as belonging to him, which was stolen earlier in the area of Road 56 and Avenue 408.

 The case is currently under investigation by the Tulare County Sheriff’s Office.

Taken into custody were:   

1.    Steven Silva 23 years
2.    Christine Gomez 27 years
3.    Jose Castro 38 years

 Deputies from the Tulare County Sheriff’s office responded to the 4000 block of Ave 400 in Kingsburg regarding a report of an assault. Upon arrival Deputies contacted the suspect who stated he had just physically assaulted his Father after an argument. The suspect was subsequently arrested and booked into the Tulare County Main Jail without incident. The victim was transported to Kaweah Delta District Hospital where he was treated for injuries sustained during the assault. Anyone with information regarding this case is encouraged to contact Detective Gary Marks at (559)735-1856
 

Taken into custody was

1)    Saldana, Jose                       26Yrs.                      Kingsburg  Resident
      

Suspect#1 Kristen Lee Davis, Age: 44 Porterville, Ca.
Charges: 11377(a)/ H&S

Suspect#2  Arthur Comeau, Age: 49 Porterville, Ca.
Charges: 11358 H&S

Suspect #3  Kimberly Clark,   Age: 47 Porterville, Ca.
Charges:  11364/ 11358/ 11350 H&S

After an approximate one (1) week investigation into illegal narcotics trafficking in the Porterville area investigators from the Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Division received several complaints about vehicle and foot traffic which led to a residence in the 100 Blk of  S. Beverly. A traffic stop was conducted on a vehicle leaving the residence and Suspect Kristen Davis was contacted and found to be in possession of Methamphetamine.  The ensuing investigation led back to the residence and a search revealed approximately 205 grams of Marijuana packaged for sales, 26 Oxycontin, 14 Vicodin pills without a prescription and indicia related to the use of illegal narcotics.

All suspects were booked at their respective Tulare County Jail facilities on the above listed charges.
Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the Tulare County Sheriff’s Department Narcotics Division (559) 713-2950.

Photos available through the Main Jail.

V-1, Jose Luis Navarez 5-19-87

S-1 Confidential juvenile male from the Delano area.   

On the above date and time deputies from the Pixley Substation were dispatched to 1898 W. Sierra in Earlimart for a report of a male who had been stabbed during a physical altercation. 

Detectives from the Violent Crimes Unit and South End Investiations were called. During the investigation it was discovered the victim and male suspect had been in a physical altercation and the suspect stabbed the victim several times during the fight. The victim received several puncture wounds to his upper body during the altercation.  The suspect fled in an unknown type vehicle after the stabbing.      

 The case remains under investigation. 

Any information should call Detective Richard Ramirez at (559) 733-6218 or send anonymous information by sending a text message or email to TCSO@tipnow.com or call 1-800-TIPNOW.   

During the weekend of 8/10/12 through 8/11/12, personnel from the Tulare County Sheriff’s Department Gang Violence Suppression Unit, South County Community Based Officers, representatives of State Parole and Probation, made suppression efforts throughout the rural communities of the county, as a means to curb violence and other related nuisances.

Overall, there were 5 arrests for active warrants and fresh charges.  Those arrested were;

1.Joe Giron  (Adult)  felony arrest warrant

2.Carlos Chavez (Adult) Felony arrest warrant / Wanted by State Parole. 

3.Andrew Quinteros (Adult) Felony warrant and possession of controlled substance.

4.Irinfo Nebre (Adult) Misdemeanor warrant and under the influence of a controlled substance.

5.Angela Gutierrez (Adult) delaying officers in the performance of their duties.  

Anyone with information regarding any type of gang activity in Tulare County is urged to contact the Tulare County Sheriff’s Department’s Gang Violence Suppression Unit at the toll free number of: 1-(888)-363-4264 or 1-(888)-END-GANG.  Persons who provide information can remain anonymous. 

Prepared by: Sgt. R.W. Parker   P-3369

On above date and time at above location Deputies conducted a traffic stop for California Vehicle Code Violations.  Subsequent to investigation the driver, who was identified as Volent Chim 20, from the Goshen area was found to be driving on a suspended driver’s license.  His passenger, who was identified as Florentino Acosta was found to be in possession of approximately 3.2 grams of a white crystalline substance believed to be methamphetamine.  Chim was cited and the vehicle was towed.  Acosta was later transported and booked at the Tulare County Main Jail for possession of a controlled substance.   

A press conference is being held in the lobby of the Government Plaza Building, 5959 S. Mooney Blvd., Visalia at 1:30 PM.

Family of homicide victim, Martin Lopez, will be available for comment and questions. The Sheriff's Office and the family are seeking assistance from the community regarding this case.  Media is encouraged to attend the press conference to assist in getting the information out to the community.  

Please notify Sgt. Chris Douglass by email if you plan to attend.  Cdouglass@co.tulare.ca.us