Crime Blotter 09/08/12

Information below is provided to The Recorder by the Porterville Police Department. It is noted that only arrests are reported and the suspects have not been found guilty of any crime.

Saturday, Sept. 8
Warrant Service
Officers were dispatched to the 200 block of West Belleview Avenue regarding warrant service. Esal Rodriguez was arrested and booked on three Tulare County warrants. Sonja Pierce was arrested on an out of county traffic warrant.

Warrant Arrest
Officers conducted a traffic stop in the area of Vandalia Avenue and Plano Street. The driver, Andrew Mathenia, 55, had warrants for his arrest. He was booked at TCSO.

Vehicle Burglary
Officers investigated a window smash vehicle burglary at St. Annes Church. The victim’s purse was in the vehicle while attending church and was reported stolen. The case remains under investigation.

Other:
Officers conducted targeted DUI patrol throughout the evening. No intoxicated drivers were contacted; however, nine citations were issued, three vehicles were towed. Arrested was Ismael Perez, 28, for two warrants, both DUI related.

Possession of a Prohibited Weapon, Under the Influence of a Controlled Substance
Officers were dispatched to the area of Newcomb Street and Henderson Avenue regarding a subject walking in the area carrying an axe. Officers contacted Andrew Holmes, 25, in Veterans Park. Holmes was under the influence of a controlled substance and in possession of a hatchet and two knives. One of the knives was a concealed dagger. Holmes was arrested without incident and booked at TCSO.

Residential Burglary
Officers were dispatched to the 1800 block of West Julieann Avenue regarding a residential burglary. The victim was contacted and stated that she returned home and found that suspect(s) had entered and ransacked her residence. The case remains under investigation.

Arrest for Assault with a Deadly Weapon
Officers received information that Magnum Burrell, 31, was at the Sequoia Motel. There was an active investigation involving Burrell due to an incident that occurred in the 300 block of North Third Street. Burrell was contacted and arrested without incident.

Auto Theft
Officers were dispatched to the 200 block of North Pearson Street regarding a stolen vehicle. The reporting party stated suspect(s) stole his Mazda Protégé from his assigned parking spot. The case remains under investigation.

Assistance to other Agency (TCSO) – Attempted Murder
Officers were in the area of Orange Avenue and Leggett Street when they heard several gunshots. They were flagged down in the 900 block of East Orange Avenue regarding a subject who had been shot. The victim suffered several gunshot wounds, and a second victim suffered from superficial wounds to his back. TCSO and ambulance personnel responded to the scene and took over the investigation as it was county jurisdiction. There were several witnesses contacted and the case remains under investigation by TCSO.

You can follow police activity on the public safety scanner on The Porterville Recorder’s website: www.recorderonline.com.