FRESNO, CA --According to her campaign manager, Trent Hager, Democrat Leticia Perez is conceding the race for the 16th State Senate district seat.
The announcement came just after 4 p.m. Wednesday. Perez and Republican Andy Vidak faced off Tuesday in a special election for former State Senator Michael Rubio's seat.
Perez would need at least 81% of the the additional ballots left to count in the race to win.
"I want to take this opportunity to thank the thousands of voters who supported my campaign for the 16th District," said Leticia Perez. "The voters have spoken and I want to congratulate Andy on his victory."
BAKERSFIELD - A concerned mother says her son is being bullied and facing racial attacks at Garces Memorial High School. She claims to have video proof to back it up. She says she gave that proof to the school, but nothing has been done.
One of the videos she has shows a Garces student saying, "What are you doing around here you (expletive) colored? I'll hang you by a (expletive) damn tree colored. I ain't scared."
The concerned mother says it was posted on a social network site belonging to a Garces student, and the hateful words and numerous posts were meant for her African American son.
"He had a picture of my son, so evidently that was directed toward my son and probably any other black child and any other African American kid that is over there," said the mother who did not want to be identified. She said she wants to protect her son from future retaliation after enduring bullying and racial slurs every day in summer school.
"First day of school should be a fun day of school not a day to sit in the corner and someone call you the n-word," said the mother.
The mother says there is another video showing the bully saying "shoot" to her son, with his back turned in class.
"Evidently something is bothering this kid to have a mind to want to do something like that," said the mother.
She says she took the videos to Garces officials two weeks ago and officials have talked to the accused bully's parents, but no disciplinary action has been taken. And, her son has reached his breaking point.
"If you think it's not right to get rid of this kid or get this kid some help then shame on you. But, get this kid some help. And, what about my son? My son's the victim here. He always wanted to become a Ram and this was something special for him and this is what happened to him," said the mother.
After 17 News contacted Garces late Wednesday afternoon, we received a statement from Richard Sexton from the Office of Catholic Schools in Fresno. It says, "Garces Memorial High School does not tolerate any racial or hate-based language or behavior by anyone associated with the school. This type of behavior by a student may result in the student's dismissal. This prohibited behavior is clearly addressed in the school's code of conduct."
As required by both federal and state privacy statutes, the school will not discuss or release the following: any evidence obtained, the progress of the investigation, the names of any alleged perpetrators or victims, the names of any witnesses, and the final decision of a disciplinary investigation. The more serious the act, the more time the school will spend conducting its investigation. This is especially true when one of the possible disciplinary options could result in a student's expulsion.
BAKERSFIELD - Democrat Leticia Perez conceded the 16th District State Senate race to Republican Andy Vidak late Wednesday afternoon. But, despite her concession, there are still thousands of votes left to be counted.
With 100 percent of the precincts reporting statewide, Perez has 46 percent of the vote. Vidak has 54 percent.
There are 9,229 ballots that still need to be counted in the four counties that make up the 16th District.
In Kern County, elections officials say there are 2,344 provisional and absentee ballots left to count.
In Fresno County, 5,700 ballots.
In Tulare County, approximately 1,000 ballots.
In Kings County, 185 ballots.
The four counties should have all the ballots counted by Friday.
KERN COUNTY - When did law enforcement officers become the enemy? That's the question the Kern County Sheriff has been asking himself as of late, after several in-custody deaths have raised questions about local law enforcement's morality. So is police brutality an epidemic or is there another side to this story?
We talked to several Kern County peace officers who have been shot, bitten, and stabbed.
One night in February 2010, Bakersfield police officer Felipe Juarez responded to a typical call with his partner.
"Two subjects fighting, one with a knife," said Juarez.
But, the events to follow would leave him with an atypical scar.
"We ordered him to show us his hands. He would not comply," said Juarez.
So Officer Juarez and his partner tried to take the man by force. "Took him to the ground, but he kept standing back up," said Juarez. "Kind of went in on him and picked him up off the ground and his head was above mine and he bit down on my head."
The bite left a mouth-shaped hole in the top of Juarez's head.
"We have a much more violent society than we had 25 years ago," said Kern County Sheriff Donny Youngblood.
As is evidenced by the 1,102 Bakersfield police officer injuries in the last decade, like Officer Dennis Eddy who was shot in the foot and Isaac Aleman who was shot in the leg.
"Police work is hours of boredom mixed in with a few moments when you're scared to death," said Rob Heiduk, retired Bakersfield police officer.
Yet many see the badge not as the symbol of a hero, but as the mark of a villain.
"I'll tell you when I came back from Vietnam in 1971, I felt exactly what I am feeling today about law enforcement, exactly the same," said Sheriff Youngblood. "The public thinks you're the enemy. How dare you do what you did."
Officer-involved shootings are viewed sometimes as intentional.
"They know for a fact what that officer committed for a murder, an execution," said Bernie Lopez whose son died in an officer-involved shooting in October 2012.
"There was no weapon when they shot him," said Gabriel Gurrola whose brother died in an officer-involved shooting.
Arrests caught on tape are viewed as police brutality.
"I just think they beat him to death and sat there and thought it was a game," said Luz Ramos whose brother died in Kern County Sheriff's Department custody.
"When a deputy makes an arrest there's a faction out there that call that a beating," said Sheriff Youngblood.
According to our records, there have been 20 civilian deaths involving cops in Kern County since 2011, 17 of those were in officer-involved shootings. All were ruled justified or accidental by law enforcement. But, through the eyes of the public they're murder.
"This is how Kern County works, just another killing, another black," said Ermestine Martin, whose brother-in-law died in an officer-involved shooting.
Retired Sheriff's Deputy Tom Morgan was involved in two officer-involved shootings during his career. The first in 1987, left a man fatally wounded and Morgan critically injured.
"It was at a car stop. I had seen a motorcycle with the headlight out," said Morgan.
But, when Deputy Morgan approached the male driver, he attacked with a knife.
"The first stab wound went into my upper back. The second one went through my right arm, and the third one went into my left leg," said Morgan. "As soon as I was able to, I drew and fired my weapon. He staggered back. I fired again and then he took off running, much to my surprise."
"When someone is shot, if they are not shot in the brain, the heart, or the spine they keep coming. They don't stop. They don't go flying backwards like we see on TV," said Sheriff Youngblood.
Deputy Morgan fired six times before the man fell and died. "I spent a night in ICU, a week and in the hospital and about a year being rehabilitated," said Morgan.
But almost exactly ten years later, Deputy Morgan's life was on the line again. "Right out of the box we got a call to the area of Cottonwood and Brook," he said.
Morgan says he and his trainee immediately spotted two suspicious men. But, just as one of the men was searched, he took off running behind a house.
"I ordered him to put his hands where I could see them. He ignored me entirely," said Morgan. "He didn't have a gun in his hand so I couldn't actually justify firing at him at that moment."
So Morgan decided to take him into custody by force.
"I remember feeling his hands going into his pants and a very short time later I remember a blinding flash of light and I was unable to move at all," said Morgan. "I felt as if I was floating in warm water. I had no sensation anywhere in my body."
That's because Morgan had been shot in the neck. Regaining feeling, Morgan grabbed his backup weapon.
"He was able to grab the weapon out of my hand and turn it at me. He did not know how to use the weapon so he attempted twice to get it to fire," said Morgan. "I was able to find a board and I swung it up and smacked him in the head with it."
Officers arrived soon after, but Morgan would forever be scarred.
"It took out my vocal chords. All I've got there is scar tissue," said Morgan. "I think law enforcement is one of the few jobs where many of the people you're trying to serve, actively hate you."
Detective Rob Heiduk knows that hatred firsthand.
"I was actually on my way home from lunch," said Heiduk when he heard an unknown call on the radio. "I thought I'm just about there. I'll just go by."
It was then he saw a suspect with a gun.
"I was in my car. I opened my car door, went to point my gun at him and we shot each other," said Heiduk.
Detective Heiduk was hit in the hands.
"I couldn't feel it at first, but the pain was like the Energizer bunny, just kept going and going and going and going," said Heiduk.
This shooting was the first time Heiduk was hit, but not his first gun battle.
"I'd been in three other shootings before that," said Heiduk.
But, he said each one could have been prevented.
"If the cops come to you and say 'you're coming with me, turn around, put your hands behind your back,' it's all good," said Heiduk.
But, that's not what always happens.
"Their goal is to get away anyway they see fit," said Juarez. Injuring deputies and officers along the way.
Each altercation is a mark on law enforcement's reputation. A reputation that many feel is losing life with each round fired.
"Somewhere along the last five years we've become the enemy, and that's so distasteful to me," said Sheriff Youngblood.
Deputy Morgan and Detective Heiduk have since retired from the line of duty. Officer Juarez is still on patrol.
OILDALE - From water flow to the Bakersfield Blaze, many topics were on the table at the North of the River economic outlook conference. Business leaders shared their views of where they see the area now and in the future.
When the conference first began three years ago, about 100 people showed up. On Thursday, some 300 people were there. Many business experts say that's a sign people care and it shows in the improvements they are seeing.
Business and community members packed the conference to air their concerns.
"I think from Norris Road to the river, that area needs to be looked at closer and more cleanup," said Jeannette Gary with Citizens for a New Oildale.
And, they also shared successes.
"The corridor by the airport, the industrial corridor, there's always new tenants out there," said Chris Lowe, President of the NOR Chamber.
In that area too, there are new construction projects, both residential and commercial.
"Believe it or not, we have the lowest vacancy rate in the country. So, you are seeing renewed demand, interest in development. So family wage jobs and growth are definitely occurring here," said Richard Chapman, President and C.E.O. of Kern Economic Development Corporation.
Chapman says the employment growth here is on par with some of the best economies in the country. The only thing stopping it would be the workforce.
"Most of the skilled workers are employed. So, we need to get those who are sitting on the sidelines, to train them and take some of these jobs," said Chapman.
Conversations were also flowing about water. Now that old contracts have expired, Kern River expert Gene Bogart, says the city will restore water to the river in the first decent rain year.
"It replenishes the groundwater and 80 percent of our local water does come from groundwater. So, it's really important that we keep that supply available," said Bogart.
Also available, soon, Sam Lynn Ballpark. Once the Blaze owners build the new field off Rosedale Highway, they'll leave the old stadium, they believe, better than it was.
"Our hope is that it will be used for youth baseball or for high school tournaments or things like that. But, we did invest quite a bit of money," said Chad Hathaway, Co-owner of the Bakersfield Blaze.
Hathaway says what happens to Sam Lynn will be up to the county since it owns the land. As for the new stadium, Hathaway says they are working on financing, but hope to break ground at the end of this year and open in 2015.
BAKERSFIELD - Dramatic video shows a risky rescue that turned out to be a local pilot's final flight. For nearly 30 years, he put his life on the line to save others and keep us safe.
Command Pilot Norman Canby retired Wednesday from the Kern County Sheriff's Department. But, his career didn't end quietly. He had one last adventure on his last trip up.
Deputy Brad Brandon slid out of the Sheriff's helicopter Monday in Ridgecrest. As it circled overhead, Brandon's feet dangled in the air.
Command Pilot Norman Canby navigated the helicopter, as Deputy C.J. Martin directed him to a woman trapped in her car, stranded in rising floodwater.
Brandon was lowered down on a rope. As he reached the car, he opened the door. Crews were then able to hoist the woman to safety.
"I love being the pilot of that Air 5 ship when the call comes out and someone is in desperate need," said retired Deputy Pilot Norman Canby. "If you don't get there in a hurry and do something, it could turn out very tragic."
Canby patrolled Kern County from 500 feet. "We don't have to stop at red lights and stop signs up there," he explained. "We nose it down, we pull the power and we get there quick."
Every call is different, from chasing bad guys to search and rescue operations.
"Every time we lift off the ground here at Meadows Field and we go on service or we go to that next search and rescue call, we know our lives are on the line," said Canby. "Anything can happen up there."
For every call, Canby had an unobstructed view to spot criminals or locate hiding suspects.
"It's becoming more and more dangerous every time we go out," he said.
During the summer, Canby flew over the mountains of Kern County and helped narcotics officers bust marijuana grows.
"They're not afraid to shoot it out with the officers. They just don't care. They are ready to take you on," he said.
Canby started in 1978 as a Sheriff's explorer. He was just 17 years old. The Sheriff's Department hired him as a deputy sheriff in 1984.
Canby worked the streets for ten years, before he took a higher calling. "Sheriff Youngblood came to me and said, 'hey we have an opening in the Air Support Unit'," explained Canby. "He had no idea from a little kid, that's always what I wanted to do."
Canby spent 18 years as a pilot in the department. "Every day I look forward to coming to work. I got a smile on my face," explained Canby. "I have guys I got hired with and they're behind the desk and that's just not for me."
After 7,000 hours in the sky, Canby said goodbye Wednesday to the crew he considers family and took off on his next adventure, retirement. "It's just been a tremendous career," he said.
Canby plans to buy a Harley Davidson to travel and spend time with his family.
BAKERSFIELD - Pet overpopulation is a major problem affecting the Kern County Animal Shelter.
With hundreds of new animals coming into the shelter every day, staff says there is simply not enough room.
But, that's not the only concern. Come September, city officials may take over the shelter on Mount Vernon Avenue if they can't reach an agreement with the county.
"It's a continual problem. Overcrowding at the shelter is a microcosm of overcrowding of the animals in Kern County. It's always a problem," said Nick Cullen, Animal Shelter Supervisor.
It's a problem the shelter sees too often. Last month, the shelter took in 1,865 dogs. It only has 174 dog kennels.
As for cats, it took in 1,511, a bigger number than the nearly 120 cages it has for cats and puppies.
17 News spoke with Director Jen Woodard about this, earlier this month. "We're getting in hundreds of animals and we don't have spaces for them and so we do have to pair them," said Woodard. "We do have to be creative, and unfortunately many of them are euthanized at this time because of a lack of space."
Last year, the shelter euthanized approximately 17,000 animals and has a save rate of 30 to 35 percent.
With space being a major issue, staff says they have to be creative and find new places to house animals.
"We just have to use spaces that maybe were not intended to house animals in the first place, but we can still do so safely so we use it," said Cullen.
One of those places is the lobby, where you're greeted by cats right when you walk in.
Staff will also add another tier to the Cat Room when they run out of space.
"Any of these kennels you walk through, you can see some of the kennels may have 10, 11, 12 little dogs each. That's a lot of dogs to put into one kennel. Although we do the effort to pair them appropriately, it also makes it so people have trouble looking at one dog in a kennel when there's ten of them," continued Woodard.
But, that's not the only issue at the shelter. Some say there's also a lack of communication.
The county shelter sits on city land, and the one-year agreement with the city expired last month. City officials say they haven't heard from shelter staff since May.
The city and county have plans to run a joint animal shelter at the current Mount Vernon location. But, that requires a new agreement.
"If the county and city are unable to enter into this two-year interim agreement to facilitate the future plan that we came up with, we would end up separating at that time," said Steven Teglia, Assistant to the City Manager. "The city would take over the existing facility and we would do the renovations that we think are needed and we would operate a city shelter."
After the agreement expired last month, the county requested a three-month extension.
Woodard told 17 News Thursday afternoon there hasn't been a lot of communication with the city because county officials are considering the two-year agreement.
She said a letter was sent Thursday to the city manager's office to discuss an additional one-year extension and whether a joint shelter would be best for the county.
BAKERSFIELD - Burglars taking jewelry and bank robberies are thefts you often hear about. But, lately thieves in Bakersfield are going for something a little more unconventional, kitchen grease from restaurants.
Kitchen grease is something nearly all restaurants generate, storing it inside or outside in a tub. It's garbage to many, but to a crook it's greasy gold.
Burgers, french fries, and bacon are just a few of the ingredients that make up lunch for a Checkers customer. But, they are also foods that generate a lot of grease.
The Bakersfield Checkers eatery stores its grease in a tub outside until its contracted grease recycling company, Darling International, Inc., comes to pick it up and turn it into animal feed and bio-diesel fuel.
"This business has been around for 100 years. We were green before green was green," said Jim Roth, General Manager for Dar Pro Solutions, a subsidiary of Darling International.
But, lately thieves are cashing in on this gooey goodness.
"We've noticed a high amount of theft in the Bakersfield area," said Roth.
The thieves suck it up into a storage container just like a recycling company, but messier.
"Usually they'll wreck some of the equipment and they'll also get the building pretty dirty as well," said Jess Rojo, Operating Partner at Checkers in northwest Bakersfield.
According to the Bakersfield Police Department, there have been 80 grease thefts since the start of this year. Rojo's Checkers has been hit three times.
"I guess if they can get away with it they will pretty much get what they want," said Rojo.
Those thieves make a nice profit selling an average night's haul. About 750 gallons of grease sells for $2,040. That's money that could have gone to the recycler and the restaurant.
"Absolutely, it's harmful to us," said Roth. That's why Darling, International is trying to put a plug on the problem.
"We need to eliminate these guys from coming into Bakersfield and eliminate this thief problem," said Roth.