Rash of crimes leaves victims injured, dead

A string of violent crimes during the past two-plus weeks has left a bloody trail across Porterville as police work to bring the perpetrators to justice.

Since late last month, Porterville has experienced two homicides, several shootings and other violent incidents across the community.

Police on Tuesday said many of the incidents are related to alleged gang activity in the area — activity that’s taking a violent turn.

“I wouldn’t use the term ‘gang war,’ ” said Lt. Chris Dempsie of the Porterville Police Department, “but there’s definitely an upswing in gang activity.”

Enough activity, in fact, to prompt a crackdown on local gangs that began Tuesday.

Dempsie said police served eight search warrants and arrested nine people before the dayÂ’s end.

The rash of recent violent crimes continued Sunday with the attempted murder of a Porterville man and the shooting of another person in separate incidents that sent both victims to the hospital, one fighting for his life.

Bloody Sunday: Part 1

Police on Tuesday were investigating a fight that occurred early Sunday morning and left a local man severely beaten by a group of people attending a party.

The case is being treated as an attempted murder.

The police department received a report shortly before 3 a.m. Sunday of a man being beaten in the 300 block of West Kanai Avenue, police reported Tuesday. Upon arrival, officers found Noe Martinez, 36, of Porterville, unresponsive and severely beaten.

Witnesses were rendering aid to Martinez at the time police arrived. Martinez was later taken by ambulance to Sierra View District Hospital.

Police on Tuesday said witnesses indicated Martinez came to 301 W. Kanai Ave., with friends, for a party that was already in progress. An argument reportedly erupted and those attending the party left the home to the front lawn area of the residence.

Numerous individuals who were attending the party, described by police as Hispanic males between 20 and 30 years old, then attacked Noe, police report.

Noe reportedly suffered severe head trauma.

After arriving at Sierra View, Noe was taken to Community Regional Medical Center-Fresno, where he was listed in critical but stable condition earlier this week. He remained in an intensive care unit at the hospital on Tuesday, hospital officials said, and was reported in stable condition.

The investigation into the fight is ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to call Detective Jeff Dowling at 782-7411.

Bloody Sunday: Part 2

As the beating case was being investigated, police began investigating a shooting Sunday night that left one man injured and the shooter at-large.

Officers responded at about 8:30 p.m. to Sierra View District Hospital to check on the victim, whose name was not released.

The victim reportedly told investigators he was driving in the area of Plano Street and Oak Avenue when several unknown males pulled their vehicle next to his, police said Tuesday.

The victim reportedly said the suspects started an argument. During the argument, the suspects allegedly fired an unknown type of firearm, striking the victim once in the left hand.

The victim fled the area and was later taken to Sierra View by private vehicle.

The victim was admitted to the hospital for his wound and as of early Monday morning was listed in stable condition, police said Tuesday. No update on the victimÂ’s condition was available Tuesday.

Suspects in the case are wanted on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon.

The case is under investigation by the Porterville Police DepartmentÂ’s Special Investigations Unit. Anyone with information is asked to call Detective Dominic Barteau or Sergeant Jake Castellow at 782-7400.

Deadly incidents

Porterville has seen three suspected homicides since early August, with the last two occurring within the past 2-1/2 weeks.

One man was dead Friday and another in custody after a Thursday night stabbing in the core of the city.

Samuel Hart, 38, of Porterville, is accused of killing Ruben Martinez, 23, of Porterville, during a fight between the two men Thursday.

Hart is being held without bail in the Bob Wiley Detention Facility on suspicion of murder.

Porterville police were sent to 38 N. F St. at about 10:20 p.m. Thursday to check on a stabbing victim. Officers arriving at the scene found Martinez had been stabbed with an unknown type of weapon.

Martinez was taken to Sierra View District Hospital by ambulance, where he later died.

Hart reportedly fled the area on foot before police arrived at the scene. He was later found by a Tulare County SheriffÂ’s Department deputy in the area of Highway 190 and Jaye Street. He was taken into custody without incident.

The Martinez slaying came on the heels of the cityÂ’s second homicide of 2007.

Juan Manuel Castellanos-Alvarado, 35, of Porterville, was gunned down Aug. 27 during an afternoon shooting witnessed by dozens of people in front of Sunshine Market on South Main Street.

According to police, numerous witnesses saw a dark primer-colored, sun-damaged, four-door sedan occupied by five Hispanic males drive into the marketÂ’s east parking lot at about 5 p.m.

Police said the suspects stopped near the victim and engaged in a brief conversation, then shot the man.

One of the suspects was described as a 16- to 18-year-old with a shaved head. He was wearing a gray T-shirt and was sitting in the front passenger seat of the car, according to police.

The driver was thought to be in his early to mid-20s with short hair. The other three were thought to be in their late teens to early 20s.

The cityÂ’s first homicide was discovered Aug. 2 when passers-by found the body of Clenon Ian Williams, 21, of Porterville, in Porter Slough near the intersection of F Street and Oak Avenue.

All three cases remain under investigation. Anyone with information about the Martinez stabbing is asked to call Detective Bryan Clower or Sgt. Jake Castellow at 782-7400. Clower is also investigating the Williams and Castellanos-Alvarado slayings.

Additional violence

Police are also investigating a suspected robbery and attempted murder that occurred Aug. 29 in the 300 block of North Walsh Street.

The victim is identified as a 16-year-old boy.

Police received a report of a stabbing that day at about 7:10 p.m. As officers began arriving on North Walsh Street, suspects reportedly fled on foot, leaving the victim down in a driveway.

The teen, whose name was not released, was suffering from numerous stab wounds to the upper torso. Police report the victimÂ’s shoes and a necklace were stolen during the attack.

Officers began checking the area for the suspects, and reportedly found Alejandro Reyes, 20, of Porterville, in the area of Salisbury Street and Putnam Avenue. Meanwhile, the victim was taken by ambulance to Sierra View District Hospital, where he received treatment for his injuries.

Reyes was arrested on suspicion of armed robbery and attempted murder. He remains in custody Tuesday in the Bob Wiley Detention Facility in lieu of $520,000 bail.

Police on Tuesday were still searching for four other suspects in the case. They are described as Hispanic males in their teens to early 20s.

This incident is considered a gang-related crime. Anyone with information about the attack is asked to call Detective Rick Carrillo at 782-7418.

Contact Glen Faison at 784-5000, Ext. 1040, or gfaison@portervillerecorder.com.