MAGNOLIA, ARK. -FormerBakersfieldCollegefootball player Brandon T. Hobdy died after being shot in a reportedly indiscriminate attack on a crowd in Magnolia, Ark.
Hobdy, 23, was attending Southern Arkansas University, where he played wide receiver for the Muleriders.
The shooting occurred early Sunday morning at the Veterans of Foreign Wars building in Magnolia.
Former SAU student Wayne A. Payton, 24, was shot in the same incident.
The Columbia County Sheriff’s Office reported that the occupants of the vehicle involved in the shooting had been removed from the building before entering a vehicle and opening fire.
Both Hobdy and Payton died from their wounds after being taken to the hospital.
Magnolia police are investigating the shooting as a double homicide.
Originally from Garland, Texas, Hobdy attended BC and played wide receiver during the 2010-2011 season. He transferred to SAU last season.
SAU held a vigillate Sunday night, where school staff and friends gathered to share their memories of Hobdy.
Mothers and fathers who are incarcerated at Lerdo jail, have a new resource designed to make them better parents when they're released. Today county child-support officials and other dignitaries joined the sheriff's department for the grand opening of the "Incarcerated Parent Project" at Lerdo.
"This is really an amazing, incredible day", said Phyllis Nance, Director of Kern Count's Department of Child Support Services. "We are excited about really creating a better life for their children, in our community."
The centerpiece of the Incarcerated Parent Project is a new kiosk at Lerdo, where jailed parents who have dependent children can get confidential counseling, and the resources they need to heal their families. "It's really important. When parents are separated from their families, especially if they have an obligation to support their children, not understanding that obligation, not understanding what's going on," Nance said. "It's really, really important for them, for their success, to understand what's going on, And that's what we're doing here."
The kiosk accompanies a new understanding among law enforcement -- that many jailed parents need this guidance, to make better lives for their children. "It's allowing inmates to get their driver license back, and reconnect with the necessary paperwork", said Lt. Greg Gonzales of the Kern County Sheriff's Department. "So when they get back out of custody they have a fighting change to be successful, to reintegrate with their loved ones, and to have the tools needed to have a job, and seek employment."
"So while they're incarcerated, they, you still have a financial obligation to support your children," Nance added. "And this is an opportunity to talk to the case workers about that obligation, talk about any barriers or challenges that they have, and really prepare them for re-entry into the community."
BORON, CA - Eight people in the Boron area have been arrested under suspicion of involvement in illegal drug activity last week.
Kimberly Rush, 34, Dana Maclean, 35, Steven Maclean, 29, John Riddle, 68, Robert Haynes, 44, Steven Haynes, 45, Shannon Massey, 45, and Jean La Fon, 44, were taken into custody as a result of two narcotic search warrants issued as part of the Kern County Sheriff’s Office zero tolerance policy toward illegal drug activity in the Boron area.
On Aug. 15, officers served a search warrant in the 26000 block of Prospect Street in Boron. Rush was arrested there for possession of a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance for sale, destruction of evidence, and possession of drug paraphernalia.
On Aug. 22, a search warrant was served in the 27000 block of Nudgent Street in Boron, where seven others were taken into custody.
There, Dana Maclean was arrested for possession of a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance for sale, and bringing a controlled substance into a jail facility.
Riddle was arrested for possession of a controlled substance and possession of an illegal weapon.
Steven Maclean was arrested for being a convicted felon in possession of ammunition.
Robert Haynes was arrested for possession of a controlled substance and for being under the influence of a controlled substance.
Massey was arrested for under the influence of a controlled substance and being in possession of drug paraphernalia.
Steven Haynes and La Fon were arrested for being under the influence of a controlled substance.
BAKERSFIELD, CA, County supervisors are meeting this evening to discuss the possibility of a new sales tax to assist in financing staff expenses for a new jail facility opening in 2017.
According to County Administrative Officer Johh Nilon, a half-cent sales tax could generate $30 million.
A half-cent tax was proposed on a previous ballot, which looked to assist in funding transportation projects but the proposal failed to pass.
Nilon suggests the public may vote to support the tax, stating that public safety is a high priority for residents.
“We know prison realignment program is putting hundreds actually thousands of inmates who heretofor would have been in prison or in county jail out on the street,” said Nilon. “In order to deal with that we need to have more capacity.”
The new facility is expected to cost $275 million a year to staff.
The discussion will take place at the county supervisors’ budget meeting tonight at in the Board of Supervisors Chambers.
BAKERSFIELD, CA– The Bakersfield Police Department reports that five people were arrested for driving under the influence in a Saturday, Aug. 23 checkpoint in the 1000 block of Calloway Drive between and
Four DUI arrests were for alcohol charges, while one was for narcotics.
Additionally, 11 drivers were found with invalid driver licenses, two of which were found to be suspended. Eight vehicles were impounded.
Seven vehicles held for driver license violations were released before conclusion of the checkpoint.
This checkpoint was part of an effort to reduce the number of people injured or killed each year from DUI related collisions by increasing enforcement and spreading awareness of the dangers of driving while intoxicated.
BPD requests anyone who suspects a drunk driver to report the incident to 911.
FRESNO, CALIF, A correctional officer pleaded guilty today to conspiracy to provide and possess contraband in a Taft prison, according to attorney Benjamin B. Wagner.
Between November 2013 and Feb. 27, 2014, courtroom documents revealed that Ramon Cano, 28, conspired with inmate Gerardo Alvarez-Montanez, 32, to smuggled cellphones, cash, alcohol and controlled substances into the Taft Federal Correctional Institution in exchange for cash.
Cano is scheduled to for sentencing on Dec. 15, 2014. Montanez, who also plead guilty to charges to conspiracy to provide and possess contraband, is scheduled for sentencing on Sept. 15, 2014.
Both defendants face a maximum statutory penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. However, actual sentencing is at the discretion of the court after considering federal sentencing guidelines.
WOFFORD HEIGHTS, CALIF. The US Forest Service is reporting that the Way Fire is now 96 percent contained. Additionally, fire activity remains minimal and has allowed crews to break from working night shifts.
On Sunday, Aug. 24, the California Interagency Incident Management Team 5 transferred command of the Way Fire to a Type 3 Management Team, which will continue to improve containment lines and monitor for fire activity.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation.
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. - Supervisors met Monday night to discuss the county budget, which weighed in at more than $2 billion for the next fiscal year, and began more budget hearings Tuesday morning.
The meetings took place Monday, Aug. 25, at and Tuesday, Aug. 26, at in the board chambers at 1115 Truxtun Avenue.
The public weighed in for Monday night’s meeting, with some residents making a last-minute pitch to increase funding for literacy programs and the library, including free wireless internet in libraries and $25,000 for adult education programs.
These requests come during a time that the county has spent an extra $26 million dollars to keep KernMedicalCenter from going under.
Monday, CountyAdministrative Officer John Nilon said that $10 million is expected to be spent on KMC next year, with more money set aside for any “state liabilities that they may have.”
“We’re also funding about $2.5 million for capital projects,” Nilon said. “So, it is an ongoing expense for the general fund.”
KMC isn’t the only big project on the county’s hands.
A new jail facility cost $100 million, provided by the state, according to Nilon. However; he said that once the facility is built, it will be the county’s responsibility to pay for staffing. The county expects staffing the facility to cost $27.5 million.
The Kern County Sheriff’s Office hopes to combat that cost by shifting workers from the Lerdo County Jail, potentially saving $7 million in staffing costs.
The bill for the remaining $20 million, however, may be footed by tax payers. The county is considering a half-cent sales tax increase to make up the difference.
Another concern is the increased contribution to the pension fund for retired county workers, which, by some estimates, the county may need to pay out an additional $22 million.
BAKERSFIELD, Calif.– The Bakersfield Police Department is asking for assistance with finding three burglary suspects that shoplifted shoes from Famous Footwear at 8920 Rosedale Hwy. on Wednesday, Aug. 20.
The suspects, described as three black males, ages 17 through 19, who were wearing T-shirts and shorts at the time of the incident.
They are accused of leaving the store without paying for three boxes of new shoes.
BPD requests anyone with information regarding the case to contact them at 661-327-711. Anonymous tips can be sent to 274637 by sending BPDCRIMES along with a message.
BAKERSFIELD,CA, On Aug. 25, the Kern County Department of Child Support Services unveiled a new kiosk system to help incarcerated parents interact with child support professionals.
The organization is looking to provide support and education for incarcerated parents in an effort to help them become better parents upon their release.
According to the Kern County Sheriff’s office, many parents have issues attaining employment, professional licenses, or a driver’s license due to non compliance with child support orders.
“It’s really important. When parents are separated from their families, especially if they have an obligation to help their children, not understanding that obligation, not understanding what’s going on – it’s really, really important for them, for their success, to understand what’s going on. And that’s what we’re doing here,” said Phyllis Nance, Kern County Department Director of Child Support Services.
More than 200 parents have already utilized the kiosks.
BAKERSFIELD, Calif.– Help is being sought identifying and locating a suspect wanted for Burglary after allegedly breaking into Headquarters Salon and stealing merchandise on Tuesday, Aug. 12.
The Bakersfield Police Department describes the suspect as a white male, wearing a light colored baseball cap and eye glasses, with possible tattoos on his right arm.
The burglary occurred at at the Headquarters Salon at 5600 Auburn Street.
BPD requests anyone with information regarding the case to contact them at 661-327-7111. Anonymous tips can be sent to 274637 by sending BPDCRIMES along with a message.
BAKERSFIELD, CA. A local man accused of causing a deadly crash in October 2012 was sentenced today to 23 years in prison.
Breanna Webb, 18, was killed when Martin Juarez drove the wrong way on Coffee Road, crashing head-on into Webb’s vehicle. Three others were also injured in the crash. Webb died at the scene.
Prosecutors revealed that Juarez had a blood alcohol level that was triple the legal limit.
Juarez pleaded guilty to one charge of gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated.
"That day changed me forever. The same little girl that taught a 19-year-old father how to love and what it meant to be a father, was now teaching me about loss and grief in a way that was unimaginable by most,” said Webb’s father. “Breanna was my first love."
The Juarez family commented that they wish they could take it all back but also said they believe the sentence is too harsh,
"If I could take this day back, as well as my husband, he would have put himself in her place because he is not a heartless man. He is a loving, compassionate, giving man who only wanted to provide for his family, provide for his children and give them everything they ever wanted,” said the defendant’s wife Janey Juarez.
“We are all human, we all make mistakes. He never once said he didn't want to serve time, he knew he had to pay for what he did, but 23 years is pretty harsh. I know they lost a child, I know they did. But my children lose their father," Juarez said.
BAKERSFIELD, Calif.– A man reported prowling a neighborhood and attempting to open parked car doors on two occasions is being sought by The Bakersfield Police Department.
He is described as white, in his twenties, between five feet eight inches and five feet ten inches tall, wearing a colored T-shirt and shorts.
Police say on July 29, at , the suspect rode a mountain bike into a resident’s driveway in the 7600 block of Yuma Way. There, the suspect used a flashlight to look into parked vehicles before trying door handles.
BPD requests anyone with information regarding the case to contact them at 661-327-7111. Anonymous tips can be sent to 274637 by sending BPDCRIMES along with a message.
DELANO, Calif.– Detectives arrested a man Tuesday for the murder of John Holguin Espinoza, who was found dead in the FriantCanal in September, 2013.
John Albay Galafate was arrested at for murder, kidnapping, carjacking, elderly abuse, and robbery.
Espinoza was a World War II veteran who owned a barber shop in Delano at the time of his death. He was 88 years old when Delano police found his body in the trunk of a vehicle.
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. - The Cochran Firm has released a media alert stating a claim has been made today, Aug. 26, for damages on behalf of the mother of 26-year-old mentally ill shooting victim Michael Dozer.
The damage claim is against shooting Officer Aaron Stringer and the city of Bakersfield for the unjustified fatal officer involved shooting of Dozer.
According to the Cochran Firm’s release, the incident occurred at near the TMP gas station on Brundage Lane in Bakersfield on Aug. 6.
BAKERSFIELD, CA - A special announcement from the Junior League of Bakersfield Tuesday morning, celebrating its 50th anniversary of service in Kern County.
They said they're accepting applications for non-profits, to give out a one-time $50,000 grant to a local non-profit organization or agency for a sustainable capital expenditure project.
Past President Judith Chase says the league just wanted to do something different, that would last a long time. "Probably the majority of grants available in the community are not for capital expenditures, those are fairly rare, so we decided that's what we want to do we wanted to do something that had more of a permanent impact in the community rather than a grant for a two year special program."
The grant must help or facilitate the goals of the applying organization and must share the Junior League of Bakersfield vision of improving the lives of women and or children.
Criteria for it, along with information, a timeline and requests for letters of intent are due no later than October 21. For more information click on the following link.
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. - The Chief Financial Officer for the KernMedicalCenter was released today by the Kern County Board of Supervisors.
Sandra Martin took over as CFO for KMC one year ago, beginning August 2013.
CountyAdministrative Officer John Nilon added that Martin helped the hospital get to a better place financially during her tenure.
"Sandra Martin helped to put KMC on more stable financial footing, but with KMC's expected transition to a hospital authority, the majority of the Board now feels that new financial leadership is needed," said Board of Supervisors Chairman Leticia Perez.
BAKERSFIELD, CA - An online hoax is creating real fear in Oildale and now has the sheriff's department's attention.
It's a fake post circulating on social media called "The Purge." It's named for a recent horror film and suggests there will be twelve hours of unmonitored crimes starting Friday night in Oildale.
The sheriff's department says, like the movie, the post is scaring some, but it's complete fiction.
"Um, that's creepy and I'm going to stay inside," said Katie Larson who saw the fake post. When asked if she thought it would happen, Larson said, "Probably, it's Oildale."
"We are a little concerned because we know that some people have a hard time differentiating between reality and fantasy," said Ray Pruitt, Public Information Officer for the Kern County Sheriff's Office.
Pruitt says while the post is a fake, they are taking it seriously since it insinuates scenes from the movie "The Purge" will play out in Oildale starting Friday night. The plot of the movie allows people to commit all crimes including murder for twelve hours. And, all criminal activity goes unchecked by any law enforcement.
"What we want the public to know is that is absolutely not true. We enforce the law 24-7. This information is not accurate," said Pruitt.
The Sheriff's Office is investigating the fake post, but is not sure where it originated.
It did find similar posts targeting Texas towns, all false and feeding on fears.
"They said no it's not going to happen. It's just false information, but I don't know if it's true or not," said Jonathon Hernandez who saw the post.
Pruitt says deputies will be out Friday night and Saturday morning looking for anyone breaking the law. And, they may add additional enforcements to ensure what happens on the big screen, stays there.
"Most people will read this and understand it's just a hoax and it's not accurate information. It only takes one person to come across this information and act on it. We want the public to know we are taking it seriously," said Pruitt.
Pruitt says their detectives are also working with local school police in their investigation.
UPDATE: The Bakersfield Police Department is reporting that the eastbound lanes of Rosedale Highway and the southbound lanes of Coffee Rd. are closed and will likely be for the next 6-8 hours. The northbound and westbound lanes are still open.
We'll continue to update as new information comes in.
UPDATE: A tanker truck crashed at Rosedale Highway. and Coffee Rd. just after 3:30 a.m. Wednesday. The intersection remained closed and traffic was being diverted. Power was restored to approximately 900 PG&E customers by 6 a.m. Still, approximately 1,329 homes and businesses remained without electricity at that time.
A tanker truck crashed at Rosedale Hwy. and Coffee Rd. just after 3:30 a.m. Wednesday. No injuries were reported, but the intersection remained closed and traffic was being diverted in all directions as of 4:30 a.m. Law enforcement encouraged drivers to use alternate routes but were hoping to have the intersection reopened by 7 a.m.
The tanker truck tipped and partially caught fire. Smoke was seen coming from the wreckage. A small army of firefighters responded and BPD officers were on scene diverting traffic. But the firefighter had to wait for an 'all-clear' from PG&E crews before dousing the flames with water due to a downer power pole and transmission lines in the roadway.
3,900 customers lost power around 3:40 a.m., according to a PG&E spokeswoman. Power had been restored to approximately 900 of those customers by 9 a.m., PG&E reported. An online outage map showed power outages were spotty, but covered a swath of northwest Bakersfield, west of Jewetta Ave. to a little east of Highway 99. There was no immediate estimate when power would be fully restored.
