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Merced Police Investigating New Years Eve Homicide

January 2, 2014, 12:03 pm
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Merced police are trying to solve a murder that happened at a New Year's Eve party.

Police were called out to the area of Derby and Alviso just before midnight Tuesday night for reports of shots fired. An initial search of the area didn't turn up anything but around 10:00 a.m. Wednesday morning, the body of a man was found in the backyard of a home.

A man who lives in the neighborhood where the body was found tells KSEE 24 that he was home on New Years Eve when bullets came bursting through his wall.

"I heard two big bangs, it might have been like a shotgun or something," said Jeremie Ballard.

Police are waiting for an autopsy to determine if the victim was stabbed or shot.
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Police Investigate Suspicious Death of Fresno Toddler

January 2, 2014, 2:15 pm
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Fresno police are investigating the suspicious death of a toddler.

Police say they found the three year old unresponsive early Thursday morning near Garland and Palm.

Rescuers were unable to revive the child and police are currently questioning the father. They say the child could be a victim of child abuse.

We will have more on this story throughout the day.
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2013 is Fresno's Driest Year on Record

January 2, 2014, 5:28 pm
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For many areas in California, 2013 was the driest year. Fresno had its driest year ever recorded in 2013, according to meteorologists at the National Weather Service's forecast office in Hanford.

Fresno received only 3.01 inches of rainfall in the last calendar year--only 26 percent of what is normal.

Although Governor Jerry Brown has not declared a drought, some meteorologists and farmers think it should be otherwise.

California is expected to continue to receive below-average levels of precipitation through March, according to the U.S. seasonal drought outlook report.

Central California is experiencing extreme drought-like conditions, said Cindy Bean, a meteorologist with the NWS in Hanford, as she referenced the U.S. Drought Monitor for California.

California could be entering its third straight dry year. The Central Valley's rainy season, which began in October, hasn't gotten off to a good start.

"We're halfway through that period. So we have to hope that we turn wet in January, February, March. Maybe hope for that March miracle to give us a lot of rainfall," Bean said.

To put last year's rainfall in Fresno into perspective, meteorologists compare that to Fresno's wettest year, 1983, which received 21.6 inches of rainfall.

Those in the agriculture industry are feeling the trickle down effects. Reduced water allocations can affect what kind of crops farmers can grow.

"So we have been idling the land for a couple of years anticipating that we're going into drought years and saving our water," said Joe Delbosque, a farmer in Firebaugh.

He's had to leave one of his fields unplanted. The field, which is dedicated to row crops, requires more water.

As farmers look for ways to conserve water, they're already looking for future challenges if this dry trend continues.

"We're extremely concerned about 2014, but 2015 could easily be a catastrophe," Delbosque said.

Less rainfall is also concerning to those fighting fires above the valley floor.

By this time of year, new vegetation should be growing, but the lack of rainfall is creating extremely dry, dangerous conditions," said Capt. Ryan Michaels with Fresno County Cal Fire.

"It's throughout California that people need to have that elevated level of concern for wild land fires and the potential for it to be very devastating," Michaels said.

The state's first snow pack survey will be done Friday. It measures the amount of water that will flow into reservoirs.

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Man Accused of Trying to Kill PG&E Worker, Takes Stand

January 2, 2014, 5:47 pm
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The man charged with trying to murder a Fresno PG&E worker with his car, testified in court Thursday.  55 year old Jett McBride told the jury he never meant to hurt anyone, but claims he was not in a right frame up mind leading up to the incident.

The case is nothing short of bizarre. The crash, followed by an attack by "Kai the hatchett wielding hitchiker" even gained national attention.

There seems to be no question that Jett McBride was somewhat out of his mind the day his car plowed into Rayshawn Neely.

Jett McBride says, "I was delusional."

McBride took the stand Thursday in his own defense, claiming prior to the alleged crime, he believed the Illuminati, a secret society dating back to the 1700's, was trying to kill him and blow up the Superbowl.  He also told the jury at the time he believed he was Jesus Christ.

"When I say I'm Jesus Christ, it doesn't necessarily mean I'm the man Jesus Christ but that I have the holy spirit of Jesus Christ in me," says McBride.

The traumatic crash happened nearly a year ago and left Rayshawn Neely with two shattered leg bones that still are not all the way healed.
 
The star witness, "Kai the Hitchhiker," is now behind bars himself accused of murdering a New Jersey man.  Jurors still heard his preliminary testimony.

Legal analyst Mark Broughton says, "If they know anything about this witness and are able to put it out of their minds, that's one thing, but if they keep that in their minds and they use that to evaluate his credibility, or believability, that's up to the jury."

The prosecution grilled parts of McBride's testimony.  He claims Kai, a man he picked up hours prior, punched him in the head and maybe even grabbed the wheel right before the crash.  But, that information was not mentioned until this week.

Closing arguments are expected to wrap up Friday.  If McBride is found guilty, his attorney tells us he will enter another trial and plead not guilty by reason of insanity.

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Missing 7-Year-Old Boy Has Been Found Safe

January 2, 2014, 5:57 pm
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UPDATE-Search and rescue crews have found missing 7-year-old Isaac Sprague safe and sound.

Merced County Sheriff's deputies discovered Isaac Sprague in a foot of water in the Merced River.

Investigators say Sprague was with his grandfather and others shooting arrows at the archery range on Stevinson Ranch when he suddenly disappeared.

Law enforcement and fire department officials used every resource possible to look for the missing autistic boy.

Air, ground and water dive teams were utilized to search for Isaac.

Crews scoured the area but couldn't pinpoint him.

They then went back to a spot they had searched a few times before and heard moaning, that's where they found the boy in about a foot of water in the river.

Isaac was cold and crying, he was then wrapped in a blanket and taken to the hospital where he was reunited with his family. 

Isaac's autism presented a challenge because he functions at a 2 to 3 year-old capacity.

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New Years Resolutions at Fort Washington Fitness

January 2, 2014, 8:11 pm
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Star off your year in shape. Fort Washington Fitness offers a wide variety of classes, great prices, flexible hours and is a cut above the rest of the valley gyms.
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Central California Blood Center Desperately Low on Supply

January 3, 2014, 7:49 am
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The Central California Blood Center says its blood demand over the holidays was higher than expected, which has left the valley blood supply very low.

O-negative blood is at 17 percent of the projected need.

The Central California Blood Center is the sole provider of blood for 31 hospitals in a five-county area. During the holiday period, the center also had to donate some of its supply to Chicago area hospitals that are also running low. The snowstorm pummeling the northeast is also expected to put a hamper on blood donations and the supply.

It takes less an one hour to help save a life. You can give the gift of life at blood centers in Fresno at the Jenny Eller Donor Center on West Herndon Avenue, blood centers on East Shaw and East Perrin, at the Visalia Blood Center on Mooney Boulevard and the center in Porterville on North Main Street.

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New Fresno Target Store Looking to Hire 200 Positions

January 3, 2014, 11:46 am
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If you're searching for work a new target in Fresno is opening soon and they're already taking applications for up to 200 positions.

The new store is being built on West Herndon near Highway 99. The northwest store is scheduled to open in March.

Target is holding a job fair Saturday and Sundayat Rio Vista Middle School from 11:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m. At that time, store managers will conduct pre-scheduled interviews with applicants.

For more information, visit http://www.target.com/careers
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Delays Expected on Highway 180 Construction Project

January 3, 2014, 11:48 am
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You can expect some detours and delays on a Fresno freeway next week.

Construction crews working on the 180 braided ramps project will be closing eastbound 180 at Highway 41 starting on Monday.

The closure will start at 10:00 p.m. and last until 5:00 a.m. the next morning. Work is scheduled to continue each night throughout the week.

Crews will also be closing both 41 ramps to eastbound 180 from 10:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m.

Drivers headed that way are encouraged to plan an alternate route.

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Father Suspected in Death of 3 Year Old

January 3, 2014, 11:55 am
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A 27-year-old Fresno man is accused of killing his 3-year-old son.

Investigators say were called out to a home near Palm and Garland Thursday morning and found Don Nelson holding his three-year-old son who was unresponsive. The boy later died at a hospital.

Investigators say Nelson admitted to spanking his son with a belt. Police are waiting until the autopsy is complete to charge Nelson for the child's death.

"Based on that autopsy we will be able to determine number one, how these injuries occurred and secondly, how these injuries contributed to that child's death," said Fresno Police Chief Jerry Dyer.

Dyer says nelson will, at the very least, face child abuse charges and could be charged with murder.
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Vandals Deface Historic Fire Department Bell in Merced

January 3, 2014, 12:00 pm
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Vandals attacked a century-old bell outside the Merced Fire Department headquarters.

It happened Wednesday night at the department on 16th Street. The bell is now cracked along its base.

Firefighters say it only took minutes to destroy the artifact that's been around since 1910.

"It's unfortunate, its sad. I grew up in this city and so you know the history of the fire department is important to me and to destroy something like that is kind of sad. You don't expect something like that to happen at a fire station," says Captain Billy Alcorn.

Said Battalion Chief Sean Henry, "Its not like they were trying to steal it for financial gain or anything. They were just trying to destroy it. Just a senseless act of vandalism."

The suspect also knocked out a window in the fire station garage using lumber from a nearby construction site.
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Smartphone App Helps Man Catch Thief in the Act

January 3, 2014, 1:06 pm
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In Clovis, a resident used a device on his smartphone to help catch a man who was burglarizing his home.

Police ended up arresting 20-year-old Michael Cook just after 3:30 p.m. Thursday. They received a call about a burglar in the 100 block of North Lind.

The homeowner wasn't there but got a notification on his cell phone about an alarm being tripped. He was able to look at his security cameras through his phone and spotted the suspect.

When police arrived the suspect took off but he was arrested a short time later.
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Eyewitness News Investigates: Murder Suspect's Heroic Past

January 3, 2014, 6:06 pm
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New details about one of the women accused of murdering a man on New Year's Day.  Jessica Wills and Jacqueline Benavides-Wills were arrested for allegedly stabbing a man to death.  Eyewitness News has uncovered Jessica Wills was credited with saving a woman's life just two weeks ago. 

A criminal complaint, filed by the District Attorney, charges Wills with murder.  Her attorney can't talk details about what may have happened on Wednesday, but he says murder would be extremely out of character for his client.

23-year-old Jessica Wills sits in the Fresno County Jail on Friday night, accused or murder.  Fresno Police say she and her wife stabbed a 31-year-old Anaheim man to death after a night of drinking led to a fight.  But defense attorney Michael Aed says Wills is not a murderer. 


"We're talking about someone who's in the military, who's got an exemplary record within the military, who has been noted as an exemplary citizen not only by family but by the Fresno City Fire Department, said Aed. 

Outlined in this Fresno Fire Department mem, Wills is credited with saving the life of a 66-year-old woman.  She was choking to death on a piece of meat at Fleming's restaurant.  Wills, a valet parking attendant at Fashion Fair Mall, jumped in to help after the woman lost consciousness and her pulse.  A responding firefighter writes, Wills performed CPR for two to four minutes, effectively saving the woman's life.

"She is an upstanding individual. All she does is try to help people," said Aed.

Fashion Fair Mall even posted about the incident on its Facebook page, calling Wills a hero.  Aed says she has a history of doing the right thing, including volunteering for an eight month deployment to Kuwait last year.  Now, her lawyer says she's overcome with emotion.

"She's extremely distraught.  She's concerned.  She's concerned obviously for her well-being.  She's concerned about the allegations being levied against her," said Aed.

Wills' wife, Jacqueline Benavides-Wills was also arrested Thursday.  Police Chief Jerry Dyer says the victim got into an argument with his girlfriend, that turned violent.  

"From the autopsy report, the injury on the victim came from two different types of weapons," said Dyer.

The couple is due in court on Monday.  Aed believes Wills, and her wife, will be vindicated of the murder charge.
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Shaver Lake Business Struggling with Lack of Snow

January 3, 2014, 6:13 pm
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The lack of snow fall is creating a struggle for those living in local mountain communities, like Shaver Lake.  They usually have a healthy helping of snow right now, but not this year.  Not only is the dry weather a concern for firefighters, but it's also affecting people's bottom lines.

It's one of the direst seasons in recent memory.  Mountains, which would normally be covered in snow, are completely bare and that's bad news for business.

Aside from a few scattered patches of snow, it's hard to tell it's winter in Shaver Lake.

Shaver Lake resident Gene Baker says, "Who'd ever think that you'd be out there in sunny weather like this?"

"The weather out here is just gorgeous.  It's like spring again," says Shaver Lake Sports employee Zoe Scritchfield.

What is visible, is a major drop in business at Shaver Lake Sports.  For the last few weeks, employees say sales have been sluggish and profits are down roughly 90 percent from a typical winter season.

Scritchfield says,  "This town, being a resort town, is so dependent on the people coming in, that when it's slow, everyone suffers."

The traffic hasn't stopped completely.  Instead of renting snow equipment, Gene Baker is buying bait to enjoy a sunny day on the lake.

"I'm going to go fishing just because the snow conditions are so poor," says Baker.

The dry conditions are keeping firefighters on their toes.

Chris Edwards, with Cal Fire says, "It's been a busy fire season already."

Edwards says he's never seen such little snow at this time of year.

Historically this time of year is not as dry as past years and so it can increase the fire danger fuels are still very dry," says Edwards.

People are asked to play it safe when burning, and urged to cut fire lines and have water nearby.

The next chance for rain and snow isn't expected until next Thursday. 

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Christmas Trees are Fire Hazards in Homes

January 3, 2014, 6:49 pm
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The Christmas tree sitting in your living room is an ignition source waiting to be set off-- that's the message from the Fresno Fire Department.

The longer you keep it, the bigger the potential fire hazard is for your home.

Once a Christmas tree catches fire, it takes less than one minute for it to spread in a room and destroy a home.

Friday, firefighters with the Fresno Fire Dept. demonstrated in an empty room how quickly a Christmas tree fire can spread.

About 400 homes are destroyed, an average of 22 people die, and about $25 million worth of property is damaged every year in the U.S. in Christmas tree-related fires, said Koby Johns with the Fresno Fire Dept.

"They're pretty, but they're dying, and right now you've got essentially a bomb sitting in your living room," Johns said. "It's the stuff we put on it, put around it, it's there by space heaters or by fire places, and it's those extra things that are going to cause the ignition source." 

Last week in Reedley, a fire left four people without a home. Firefighters suspect Christmas tree decorations are to blame, said Reedley Fire Chief Jerry Isaak.

No matter the source, Christmas trees, even ones that aren't dry, can turn a spark into a raging blaze within seconds.

Now that the holiday season has ended, it's time to get rid of the trees.

In many cities, including Fresno, you must break down your tree, remove the decorations, and put in the green waste bin.

Improper disposal is not only bad for the environment, but also for your wallet, said Patrick Wiemiller, director of Public Works with the City of Fresno.

"Ultimately, it makes it a lot more expensive, and it's an impact on rates to have people just chucking their trees out like that," Wiemiller said.


Click below for helpful links on proper Christmas tree disposal.

http://www.yourcentralvalley.com/story/christmas-tree-disposal/d/story/axgcsPqBKUi_gKAZ86j4MA

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Authorities Investigate Officer Involved Shooting in Visalia

January 3, 2014, 6:58 pm
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Authorities are investigating an officer involved shooting in Visalia.

Around 5p.m. Visalia Police officers responded to the area of Crenshaw Dr. and Westgate Ave. they were looking for a male suspect wanted for multiple felonies.

Officers attempted to contact the suspect when he fled on foot.

A brief foot chase ensued and then the suspect produced a gun.

The suspect was then shot by officers after refusing orders to drop the firearm.

The suspect was transported to the hospital for treatment.

The Tulare County Sheriff's office is not conduction an investigation into the shooting.

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Amber Alert Cancelled, Natalie Found Safe

January 3, 2014, 10:04 pm
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UPDATE-The Amber Alert has been cancelled. Police found Natalie Calvo in the suspects car. The suspect was arrested and Natalie is safe.
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An Amber Alert has been issued after a 7-year-old girl that was abducted.

On Friday around 7p.m. Natalie Calvo was abducted from her home in Antioch, CA.

Natalie Calvo is a 7 year old, Asian, female, 3 feet tall, weighing 54 pounds, black hair,
and brown eyes, last seen wearing a neon pink scarf and jacket, gray leggings
(jeans style), brown boots, with her hair in a ponytail.

The suspect is an unknown Asian male, approximately 40-50 years old, unknown
clothing, possibly armed with a black long gun.

The suspect was last seen driving a 1990's gold Honda, boxy in appearance, leaving
the victim's residence on the 3800 block of Hummingbird Drive, Antioch, CA.

If seen contact the Antioch Police Department at (925) 778-2441.
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Visalia Police Shoot & Injure Wanted Man

January 3, 2014, 10:14 pm
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Visalia Police officers shot and injured a wanted man Friday afternoon.

The incident happened around 4:30 pm in a neighborhood at the intersection of Tulare Avenue and Crenshaw Street.

Police tell Eyewitness News that many officers were staking out the area in hopes of finding this man who was wanted on several felony counts.  They eventually did and as they tried to approach him, he ran.  It lead to a brief foot chase which went down Westgate Court and that’s where the suspect reportedly pulled out a gun.

“The officers gave commands to the suspect to drop the firearm.  He did not and at that time officers shot at the suspect.  The suspect was hit and was transported to a local hospital for treatment,” said Sgt. Amy Watkins, Visalia Police Dept.

Investigators will not elaborate on the details of the case.  So it’s unclear who the suspect is, how badly he’s hurt, what he was wanted for and whether or not police recovered a gun on him.

No officers were injured.

Deputies with the Tulare County Sheriff’s Department have taken over the case to determine if the shooting was justified.

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Bracelets Help Locate Missing People

January 3, 2014, 11:30 pm
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Gone without a trace.
An innocent outing with his grandfather turned into a nightmare for 7 year old Isaac Sprague.
"You never think it is going to happen to you," said Isaac's grandfather Michael Sprague.
The child disappeared Thursday in Hilmar, while the two were out shooting a bow and arrow.
Around eight hours later, rescuers found the autistic boy crying in a foot of water in the frigid Merced River.
"Not only could they wander off, they could be abducted," said Madera County Sheriff John Anderson.
A radio transmitter bracelet used by the Madera County Sheriff's Department could have sped up the process of finding the boy.
This equipment can detect a radio frequency within a couple of miles, from a bracelet worn by those with a history of disappearing.
"We start at the center and branch out. We've located people that have wandered as far as 20 miles away but we've still been able to locate them," said Anderson.
In one case the Sheriff said they found a five year old child within an hour.
"You can't even comprehend the feeling when one minute somebody is there and you come back and a few minutes later they're gone and no matter what you do you cant find them," said Sprague.
Isaac's grandfather didn't call for help until an hour after he went missing.
Authorities say don't wait.
Every second counts.
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Police Search For Shooting Victim

January 4, 2014, 1:37 pm
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Bizarre story out of Fresno today.

Fresno Police and Fresno County Sheriff's deputies are currently looking for the victim of a shooting.

Authorities say it all began with a disturbance between two males at a home on the 300 block of S. Villa.

One male was shot during the confrontation.

The victim then showed up at the door of an apartment where he contacted an unknown person.

According to that person he was bleeding from the head and they did not let him in.

That is when he fled on foot and that person called law enforcement.

At this time the location of the victim is not known.

A suspect in this case has not been identified.
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