(Crime Briefs – September 13)
INDIO
Police Searching for Theft Suspect in Indio
Authorities searched an Indio neighborhood on Wednesday, September 11 for a man wanted on felony warrants who took off running when an officer spotted him.
A patrol officer was on Deglet Noor Avenue near Requa Street around noon when he noticed a man walking in the area who had active theft and weapons warrants, according to Indio police spokesman Ben Guitron. The man fled when he saw the officer.
A California Highway Patrol helicopter crew was assisting Indio police with the search, which was continuing early Wednesday afternoon, Guitron said.
There was no immediate threat to public safety, Guitron said. A description of the suspect was not immediately available.
City News Service
RIVERSIDE
Riverside County’s First Flu-Related Death Reported This Season
A Perris child died from complications from the flu, marking the first death originating in Riverside County in the current influenza season, health officials said on September 11.
“We should never forget that the flu still kills,” said Dr. Cameron Kaiser, the county’s public health officer. “I always recommend people get their flu shots every year, but a death so early in the flu season suggests this year may be worse than usual. Our hearts go out to the family and loved ones who are grieving.”
Riverside University Health System officials said the child, who was 4 years old, suffered underlying maladies and was taken to a hospital outside of the county for treatment in recent weeks, but could not be saved.
Officials could not confirm whether the child, who was not identified, had received a flu vaccination.
During the 2018-19 influenza season, nine people died from flu-related complications in Riverside County, and in the prior season, 23 died, according to RUHS.
The flu is a respiratory illness marked by fever, coughing, sore throat, fatigue, head and body aches. Vomiting and diarrhea are also known to occur.
According to health officials, frequent hand-washing and “social distancing” — avoiding someone exhibiting symptoms — are sure methods to preclude contracting the flu, which is passed through droplets from a sick person’s cough or sneeze.
People fighting infections should minimize contact with others until their symptoms abate.
Flu shots are available at the Riverside University Medical Center in Moreno Valley, at any of the county’s 10 health clinics, as well as most pharmacies and doctors’ offices.
Flu season generally spans early fall to early spring.
City News Service
THOUSAND PALMS
Man Killed In Crash In Thousand Palms
An investigation was underway on September 11 into the death of a man whose car drifted off a Thousand Palms roadway and slammed into the back of a parked big rig whose sleeping driver escaped injury.
The deadly crash happened about 10:45 p.m. Tuesday, September 10 on Ramon Road just west of Robert Road, according to the California Highway Patrol.
A 56-year-old Yucca Valley resident was westbound on Ramon Road when his 2017 Nissan Sentra drifted to the right side of the roadway and struck the truck, which was parked on the shoulder, CHP Officer Jacquelene Quintero said.
The driver of the big rig was asleep in the sleeper compartment at the time, the officer said. The Sentra driver — who was not wearing a seat belt — was pronounced dead at the scene. His name was not immediately released.
Quintero said alcohol and drugs do not appear to be factors in the crash.
City News Service
RIVERSIDE
Gasoline Price: Riverside County Gas Price Drops For Fourth Time in Five Days
The average price of a gallon of self-serve regular gasoline in Riverside County dropped three-tenths of a cent on September 11 to $3.589, the fourth decrease in five days following an eight-day streak of increases totaling 10.2 cents.
The average price is eight-tenths of a cent more than one week ago, 4 cents higher than a month ago and 3.4 cents greater than one year ago, according to figures from the AAA and Oil Price Information Service. It has risen 32.1 cents since the start of the year.
The average price dropped three-tenths of a cent last Saturday and one-tenth of a cent on Sunday, rose four-tenths of a cent on Monday and dropped two- tenths of a cent Tuesday.
City News Service
INDIO
9/11 Jury Selection Continues For Man Accused Of Killing Girlfriend’s Child
Jury selection continued on September 11 for the trial of a parolee charged with murder in the death of his girlfriend’s toddler nearly a decade ago.
Esteban Alamo, who was 24 at the time of his arrest and is now 33 years old, is suspected of beating 1-year-old Serik Nieto, who died on Oct. 9, 2010.
Jury selection for Alamo’s trial has been ongoing since Monday, September 9 and is scheduled to continue on Thursday, September 12.
Alamo was living with the baby’s mother in Indio at the time of the infant’s death, allegedly violating a requirement of his parole that he remain in Los Angeles County.
Police interviewed Alamo when the victim was first taken to a hospital, but didn’t realize he was allegedly in violation of his parole. He was arrested on Oct. 14, 2010, in the Los Angeles area.
It took Riverside County coroner’s officials several months to complete an autopsy, and charges were not filed against Alamo until February 2011.
Alamo has remained in custody in lieu of $1 million bail while his case has gone through various delays.
City News Service
VENTURA
California man charged with shooting protected mountain lion
A Simi Valley man was charged with shooting and killing a protected mountain lion that roamed the mountains northwest of Los Angeles and was wearing a GPS tracking collar.
Alfredo Gonzalez, 60, was charged with two misdemeanors for allegedly shooting the male cougar, known as P-38, and vandalizing its collar, the Ventura County district attorney’s office announced Tuesday.
It is illegal to shoot a mountain lion without a state permit.
Prosecutors believe that Gonzalez shot the animal in the head in Simi Valley, possibly on July 2, when National Park Service researchers received a “mortality signal” from the collar, the agency said.
Prosecutors have not released a possible motive for the shooting.
P-38 was born in 2012 and was known to roam the Santa Susana Mountains. He was believed to have fathered four litters of cubs.
The mountain lion was part of a population that park service biologists have been studying for more than a decade.
If convicted, Gonzalez could be sentenced to a year in jail and a $1,000 fine. He also might have to pay $2,300 in restitution for vandalizing the collar, the district attorney’s office said.
It was not immediately clear whether Gonzalez had an attorney.
AP News
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