Freeway dedication to be held for fallen CHP officer

April 16, 2015, 3:32 pm

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BAKERSFIELD, CA - A highway dedication ceremony is set to honor a California Highway Patrol officer who died in the line of duty.

On Feb. 27, 1974, Officer Gerald N. Harris was killed in a hit and run collision. He was directing traffic at the intersection of Brundage Lane at Wible Road when he was struck by a vehicle.
 

The driver was later apprehended.

Now, the State Route 99 and State Route 58 Interchange will be designated as the CHP Officer Gerald N. Harris Interchange.

The freeway dedication ceremony will be held on Monday, April 20, at 11 a.m.

The ceremony will be hosted by the Bakersfield CHP  and held at the Park and Ride on Nello Street, south of Stockdale Highway and west of Highway 99.

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Shafter Police shoot and kill person

April 16, 2015, 2:03 pm

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SHAFTER, CA-

UPDATED 4:24 p.m.

Shafter Police say they got a call just before 12:30 p.m. Thursday of a man who was acting erratically and had a knife.

Police said the caller reported the man may also be high on drugs.

When officers got to the alley where the man was they say he turned towards officers and pulled a knife.

The officers say they commanded him to drop the knife but they say the suspect kept coming towards them.

That's when three officers fired killing the suspect. 

The officers involved were Sgt. Gustavo Olvera, Senior Officer Alecio Mora and Officer Anthony Erwin.

The Kern County District Attorney's Office is Investigating the shooting.

The officers have been put on routine leave while the shooting is investigated.
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Shafter Police confirm they shot and killed a suspect Thursday afternoon.

Police have a called a 3:00 p.m. press conference at the Shafter Police Department to brief the media.

The incident happened just across the street from Golden Oaks Elementary.
 
Officials at Golden Oak Elementary say the School was on lockdown for about an hour during the incident.

By our count this is the 29th fatal officer involved shooting in Kern County since the beginning of 2012 and the 6th fatal OIS of 2015.

We have a crew at the scene and will have updates as they become available.

Tax preparation services still available for low income residents

April 17, 2015, 12:27 pm

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BAKERSFIELD, CA - If you missed the April 15 deadline to file your taxes, you may be eligible for free tax preparation and filing services.

Community Action Partnership of Kern's Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (CAPK VITA) program will prepare and e-file your return for tax year 2014 as well as previous years.

To qualify, your income for 2014 must be less than $54,000.

The CAPK VITA office is located at 300 19th Street, in downtown Bakersfield, and open to the public from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Thursday year round. 

Services are available in English and Spanish. You can call 2-1-1 or 661-834-1724 to find out how to set up an appointment. 

Also, if you are married filing a joint tax return, both spouses must be present.

Some things to bring include:

• A picture ID 

• A Social Security card or ITIN 

• Your tax documents (W-2's, 1099s, gambling, social security, unemployment, interest and dividend statements, etc.) 

• Health insurance information, including a 1095A form if your purchased health insurance through Covered California 

• Your bank routing and account numbers (or a void check) for direct deposit of your tax return 

• Day care/provider information if applicable to your tax situation

Bakersfield man facing life in prison for possession of cocaine

April 17, 2015, 1:16 pm

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BAKERSFIELD, CA - A Bakersfield man is under arrest and facing the possibility of life in prison and a fine of $10 million for allegedly possessing cocaine for sale.

According to officials, 25-year-old Jonathan Arturo Alvarez was pulled over on April 2 in Siskiyou County.

    

CHP officers said they searched the vehicle and found 12 kilograms of cocaine.

    

Alvarez was charged on Thursday with one count of possession with intent to distribute.

    

If convicted he faces a maximum sentence of life in prison and a $10 million fine.

CHP looking for missing elderly man from Sacramento

April 17, 2015, 1:26 pm

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BAKERSFIELD, CA - The California Highway Patrol is asking for your help in locating a missing 75-year-old man out of Sacramento.

According to Sacramento Police officials, Ronald Clem was last seen driving away from his home on Thursday around 10:30 a.m.

     

He was driving a 2009 Honda Pilot.

     

Officials said Clem has a medical condition which could cause him to become disoriented.

     

He's about 6 feet tall and weighs around 265 pounds.

     

According to police, he may be wearing a blue shirt and blue jeans.

     

If you have any information on Clem's whereabouts you are asked to call the Sacramento Police Department at 916-264-5471.

Unemployment rate grows slightly from February

April 17, 2015, 1:35 pm

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BAKERSFIELD, CA - New unemployment numbers are out and they show the unemployment rate grew slightly in March to 11.1 percent, from 11 percent in February.

     

March's unemployment rate is still significantly below estimates from one year ago at 12.9 percent.

     

This compares to the unadjusted rate of 6.5 percent across California, and the national rate of 5.6 percent. 

Bakersfield man pleads no contest for fatal hit and run

April 17, 2015, 1:45 pm

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BAKERSFIELD, CA - A man accused of hitting and killing a bicyclist in south Bakersfield, then taking off, has taken a plea deal.

According to officials, 28-year-old Jonathan Montiel pleaded no contest to charges of felony hit and run, vehicular manslaughter, destroying evidence and being an unlicensed driver.

     

Back in February, 43-year-old Saul Zelaya Ayala was found in the road at Union Avenue and Panama Lane.

     

Detectives said he was riding south in the middle of a dimly-light stretch when he was hit and died at the scene.

     

Montiel was tracked down at his home after officers said they found a vehicle that had damage consistent with a crash.

     

He's scheduled for sentencing May 14th.

BPD looking for armed robbery suspect

April 17, 2015, 2:45 pm

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BAKERSFIELD, CA - The Bakersfield Police Department is seeking the community’s assistance in identifying and locating a suspect wanted for robbery.

  

The incident happened on March 25, around 10:40 a.m.

According to BPD, the suspect entered the Walgreens located at 4306 Ming Ave. and filled his backpack with merchandise then left without paying.

The store manager confronted the suspect but the suspect showed the manager a firearm that was in his waistband before fleeing.

The suspect is described as a male in his 30's wearing a black shirt, blue jeans and black shoes.

Anyone with information regarding this case is encouraged to call Detective Todd Dickson at 661-326-3501 or the Bakersfield Police Department at 661-327-7111.

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BPD looking for suspect wanted for stealing a purse

April 17, 2015, 2:54 pm

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BAKERSFIELD, CA - The Bakersfield Police Department is reaching out to the community to help locate and identify a suspect wanted for theft.

The incident happened on March 18, around 10:30 a.m. at the Von's store located at 4400 Coffee Rd.

According to BPD, the suspect stole the victim’s purse from the victim’s shopping cart when she was distracted. 

The suspect is described as a female, between 18-20 years old, 5’2”, 135 pounds, with dark hair and wearing a grey sweater, black shirt and blue jeans.

Anyone with information regarding this case is encouraged to call Detective Joel Luera at 661-326-3947 or the Bakersfield Police Department at 661-327-7111.

Police looking for men suspected of robbing Shell station

April 17, 2015, 3:49 pm

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BAKERSFIELD, CA - Bakersfield police Department need your help to identify and locate a man wanted for robbery and conspiracy.  Investigators say on the night of March 21, the suspect entered Shell station at 4050 Gosford Rd., selected items and left the store without paying for the merchandise.

Police say two store employees confronted the suspect outside and another suspect, 30-year-old Johnny Costello, of Bakersfield came to the aid of the first suspect with a baseball bat.

Costello was later arrested for robbery and conspiracy. The first suspect has not been identified. He is described as 
Hispanic, early 20’s, 5’5”, 120-130 lbs., medium build, wearing a black sweatshirt, black beanie, and large “gauge” earrings.

If you have information regarding this case, call Detective Verion Coleman at (661) 326-3868 or the Bakersfield Police Department at (661) 327-7111.

Police looking for man, woman accused of robbing Circle K store

April 17, 2015, 4:15 pm

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BAKERSFIELD, CA - Bakersfield police are looking for your help to identify and locate two people wanted for robbery. Police say on the night of March 21, a man and woman entered the Circle-K at 1030 Oak Street, walked behind the sales counter and confronted the cashier.

Investigators say the man then began removing cigarettes from the shelf behind the counter, at which time the woman cashier attempted to stop him. The female suspect then assaulted the cashier. The cashier was able to successfully defend herself and the male and female suspect fled from the store in a silver early 2000’s Ford Taurus with black Bakersfield Auto Exchange paper plates.

Police describe one of the suspects as black, early 20’s, 5’-7”, slim build, wearing a black T-shirt with Monster energy-drink logo and a dark colored baseball cap.

The second suspect is described as a black woman, early 20’s, light complexion, 5’-4”, slim build, wearing a pink T-shirt and black basketball shorts.

If you have information regarding this case, call Detective Mike Gerrity at (661) 326-3273 or the Bakersfield Police Department at (661) 327-7111.

Police looking for woman suspected of forgery

April 17, 2015, 4:40 pm

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BAKERSFIELD, CA - Bakersfield police need your help identifying and locating a woman wanted for forgery.  Police say on the night of February 24, the suspect deposited two stolen and forged checks into the ATM at the Kern School Federal Credit Union at 2500 Chester Av.

Police describe the suspect as Hispanic, 20’s – 30”s, brown hair, medium build, wearing a green long-sleeved shirt.

If you have information regarding this case, call Detective John Talbot at (661) 326-3858 or the Bakersfield Police Department at (661) 327-7111.

Second draft of water regulations

April 18, 2015, 11:05 pm

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BAKERSFIELD, CA - The state released a second draft of it's mandatory regulations on water conservation Saturday.

The regulations are in response to Governor Jerry Brown's Executive Order to reduce statewide potable water consumption by 25%. Governor Brown says he is striving to make California more drought resilient for the future.

California State Water Resources Control Board Chair, Felicia Marcus, spoke during a conference call Saturday morning about the release of the second informal water conservation regulation draft.

"We're in a drought like we have not seen before so all Californians need to step up more and prepare that it wont rain or snow much either, because we know that we don't know when it will end," said Marcus.

Regulators say the second draft comes after they received more than 250 comments and suggestions on the first proposal, mandating some areas cut usage more than others.

This update will reduce disparity between suppliers taking into account varying climates, weather, and water usage. The new draft breaks water suppliers into nine tiers measuring the average gallon per capita, resulting in the lion's share of California's suppliers needing to cut back anywhere between 4% and 36%.

Four of Bakersfield's eight municipal water companies are required to reduce water use by the maximum, 36%.

"Between June 2014 and February 2015 we saw a total conservation of 9-percent so moving forward we will improve our efforts to make the 25% state mandate," said Marcus.

Officials say the state will keep track of water use. Violations and non-compliance can result in fines up to $500 a day, but enforcement will be up to local authorities.

The Water Board is accepting feedback and plans to release another draft Wednesday and the formal proposal is expected to be completed by April 28th.

Meanwhile, Bakersfield city officials are expected to review an emergency ordinance to limit outdoor watering. Officials say if council members approve the ordinance it will go into effect Thursday.

Local Sikhs share their faith with the community

April 19, 2015, 5:48 pm

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BAKERSFIELD, CA - The Sikh community of Kern County is welcomed people of all religions and cultures to a celebration recognizing the foundation of the Sikh faith.

The all-day festival took place in southwest bakersfield with thousands of people celebrating in a sea of bright colors and traditional music.

     

Organizers expressed how the event is also a great way to share their faith with others and encourage people in the community to ask questions and learn more.

"You don't have to be a Sikh to attend any function ... Sikhism isn't just for any regional group of people; it's for the entire world over," said Gursimran Singh.

The celebration also recognizes the time in Punjab when farmers harvest their crops, according to organizers.

Water drive held for some Porterville residents

April 19, 2015, 6:01 pm

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BAKERSFIELD, CA - Some residents are making a big splash today as they gather to to help others in need of something very essential: water.

The group Chive On Kern hosted a water collection event at Chuy's Bar and Grill on Rosedale Highway for people without water living in Porterville.

     

Organizers said many of Porterville's residents have been without water for months and they're looking to do what they can to bring clean water to the people there.

     

The group said their mission is to make the world a better place by helping others in need.

     

If you're interested in getting involved, you can visit Chive On Kern's Facebook page and find out more about upcoming events.

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Charity group provides medical services for residents

April 19, 2015, 6:20 pm

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BAKERSFIELD, CA - Locals in need of medical services took advantage of a free clinic by an organization that looks to provide health care to underserved communities.

 

The clinic is hosted by the Tzu Chi Foundation, a faith-based group that travels to different communities and provides medical, dental, and pediatric services, as well as offering information on healthy living.

"These patients are able to be helped in a situation where otherwise they would have to go without and choose between other basics in their lives or basic needs and medical and so this way they don't have to," said Jose Morales, Director of Migrant Education with the Kern County Superintendent of Schools.

To stay up to date with the organization, click HERE.

Teacher's lesson goes viral

April 20, 2015, 11:45 am

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(KUSA) A Colorado teacher wanted to find a way to better understand her students, and the result, shared on Twitter, is both heart-wrenching and moving.

Kyle Schwartz teaches at Doull Elementary in Denver's Harvey Park neighborhood.

Doull's students are primarily Hispanic, with about 90 percent receiving free or reduced lunch programs through DPS.

A few weeks ago, Schwartz asked her students to complete the sentence "I wishy my teacher knew..." and began tweeting about the project, calling it a "reality check."

"They just let me have it. They told me exactly what they thought I should know," she said. "When students feel like they have a voice, that they're heard, they're really more open. They're more able to take risks in school."

Some of the responses were funny, but it was the ones that were brutally honest that caught her attention.

One student completed the sentence with "I don't have any friends". Others discussed the saddening realities of their home life.

Vandals hit homes and businesses in Wasco

April 20, 2015, 12:25 pm

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WASCO, CA- Vandals hit 14 homes and businesses in Wasco, according to the Kern County Sheriff's Office.

Sunday night an unidentified suspect or suspects shout several windows to homes and businesses with a pellet gun.

The incidents occurred on E Street and F Street. Anyone with information regarding the identification of the suspect(s) involved please contact the Sheriff’s Office. (661) 861-3110.

Officer cleared in fatal officer involved shooting

April 20, 2015, 1:05 pm

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BAKERSFIELD, CA- A review board has cleared a Bakersfield Police officer in a fatal Officer involved shooting

Officer Nestor Barajas shot and killed Jeff Alexander, 47, on March17, at 1125 ½ 19th St. were within Department Policy, and within State and Federal Guidelines. Officer Barajas has been returned to full duty.

Police say they got a 911 call about a man screaming and yelling inside the Hart Hotel in March.

While en route, police got another call the man had a knife and was threatening people in the hallway on the third floor of the hotel.

Witnesses told investigators they heard an officer yell at the man to drop a knife numerous times before they heard gunshots.

Police say those witnesses did not see the confrontation.

Police say Alexander died at the scene.

They say it appears he had been living at the hotel.

Police looking for missing 13-year-old girl

April 20, 2015, 1:20 pm

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BAKERSFIELD, CA - Police need your help finding a missing 13-year-old girl.   Police say Kayle Tienda, is 13 years old, 5’3”, 100 lbs., with brown hair, and eyes, she was last seen wearing a pink shirt, black pants and blue and white shoes.

She was last seen in the 5400 block of Fern Brook Way in southwest Bakersfield on Friday night. Tienda is considered at-risk due to her age and first time runaway.

If you have any information regarding this case, call the Bakersfield Police Department at (661) 327-7111.