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Listen To Your News		Monday, August 20, 2012		News Archive

SHERIFF'S DETECTIVE KILLED, DEPUTY INJURED IN NEEDLES CRASH
A San Bernardino County sheriff's detective was killed and a deputy seriously injured early Saturday when the vehicle they were traveling in crashed into a tractor-trailer that rolled over in front of them near Needles. Martin Landaeta, a 14-year-veteran, died after his vehicle crashed into the disabled tractor-trailer on the eastbound 40 Freeway near J Street. Landaeta was traveling with his wife and an unidentified sheriff's deputy to Laughlin, Nevada, for River Daze, a two-day barbecue hosted by the sheriff's Colorado River station, when the crash took place. CHP investigators said the tractor-trailer was traveling in front of Landaeta's Dodge Challenger when the driver lost control and it rolled over. County Fire Department rescuers pronounced the sheriff's detective dead at the scene. The deputy suffered a serious injury. Landaeta's wife was not seriously injured. CHP officials do not believe alcohol was a contributing factor in the crash. The condition of the passengers in the tractor-trailer was not immediately known.

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LANDERS MAN HELD FOR ATTEMPTED MURDER
A Landers man was arrested Sunday afternoon, accused of attempted murder after he rammed his Jeep into another car, and almost drove it into an occupied apartment. According to Sheriff's Sergeant Jason Radeleff, Noble Mitruk, 31, was arguing with his girlfriend in the Quail Springs Apartments in the 62200 block of Verbena Avenue in Joshua Tree about 8:30 Saturday night. Radeleff said Mitruck got into his off-road Jeep and rammed it repeatedly into her car, while she in it and parked in a parking stall at the apartments. Radeleff said Mitruk rammed her car so hard he pushed it out of the parking stall, over a curb, and 15 feet toward the apartment building, stopping just inches away from an apartment where a woman and her children were inside. Mitruk then fled in his Jeep. Deputies found Mitruk on Sunny Vista, south of Highway 62, but lost him after he turned into a wash near Alta Mesa and Sherwood, and fled on foot. Mitruck was located yesterday afternoon at a residence in the 58900 block of Pueblo Trail in Yucca Valley. Noble Mitruk was arrested for investigation of attempted murder, booked at the Morongo Basin Jail, with his bail set at $1 million, and on a $5000 warrant for driving without a license.

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YUCCA VALLEY MAN, ACCUSED OF CHILD MOLESTATION. TO BE ARRAIGNED TODAY
A longtime local elementary school teacher and church youth leader will be arraigned today for charges relating to child molestation. Caleb Hesse, 52, is charged with four felony counts of Lewd Acts Upon A Child. The County District Attorney's office said charges related to additional victims may be coming. If convicted as charged, Hesse faces a 45 years-to-life in state prison. He is being held on $2.5 million bail. Hesse recently resigned as a first grade teacher at Friendly Hills Elementary School in Joshua Tree. He has been a youth volunteer with a youth group at Evangelical Free Church in Yucca Valley since the early 1980s. Anyone who may be a victim or have additional information is urged to contact Detective Kirby at 909-387-3615.

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PART 4 OF OUR 6-PART SERIES: GOING BACK TO SCHOOL SAFELY
School starts next week. In the fourth part of a 6-part series, Sheriff's Service Specialist Anita Baker gives parents some tips on making sure their children walk to school safely...
Before your children begin walking back and forth to school, it's a good idea to take your children on a walking tour of the neighborhood and tell them whose homes they may visit without you. Remind your children it is OK to say NO to anything that makes them feel scared, uncomfortable or confused. Teach your children to tell you if anything or anyone makes them feel this way. Teach your children to tell you before leaving the home or if their route is about to change or be varied in any way.

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YUCCA VALLEY WOMAN ARRESTED FOR FELONY DUI AFTER CRASH
A Yucca Valley woman was arrested early Saturday morning, accused of crashing head-on into another car while driving drunk. About 12:30 Saturday morning, Paula Pinkston, 47, was driving eastbound on the highway, west of Warren Vista Avenue in Yucca Valley when she decided to make a left hand turn. She drove over the median and crashed head-on into a car traveling westbound on the highway. Both westbound lanes were shut down during the accident. The passenger in Pinkston's car complained of chest pain and was taken to Hi-Desert Medical Center. The driver of the other car suffered a knee injury and was treated by paramedics. Paula Pinkston suffered scrapes and bruises and was also taken to Hi-Desert Medical Center before being booked at the Morongo Basin Jail for investigation of felony driving under the influence. Her bail was set at $100,000.

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YUCCA VALLEY MAN HELD AFTER RUNNING ACROSS HIGHWAY WITH BABY
A Yucca Valley man is behind bars, accused of child endangerment, all because his wife tried to stop him from driving drunk. According to Sheriff's investigators, Jonathan Terceira, 22, of the 2100 block of La Habra, was arguing with his wife about his wanting to drive when he was drunk. Terceira took his wife's cell phone and broke it so she couldn't call police. His wife then grabbed his car keys, he snatched their 10-month-old baby and started running west on Sunnyslope, then north on Balsa Avenue and finally across Highway 62 still with the baby, dodging heavy traffic, into the parking lot by Dollar Tree and Stater Brothers. Witnesses reported the baby's head snapping back and forth as he was running. Bystanders detained Terceira until deputies arrived. Terceira was combative with deputies, who had to pepper spray him to subdue him. The baby was given a clean bill of health and returned to the mother. Jonathan Terceira was arrested for investigation of child endangerment, booked at the Morongo Basin Jail, with his bail set at $100,000.

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HEAT AND HUMIDITY MEANS ELECTRONICS HAZARD
The summer's heat effects more than just people and animals. It can also have a detrimental effect on electronic equipment. Reporter Dan Stork explains...
During this summer's prolonged heat, we've been advising our listeners about the hazards of overheating, and what precautions to take. Here's another category of potential problem: personal electronics inside vehicles. If you leave your car out in the open, remove portable GPS units, MP3 players, cell phones, etc., from direct exposure to sunlight. Also, don't leave them plugged in to DC outlets while you're away from the car. The consequences of not taking these simple measures include damage to the electronics, melting of the cases, and even explosion of batteries and ensuing fire. Do you know where your GPS is?

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MISSING POMONA MAN FOUND IN TWENTYNINE PALMS
A man reported missing in Pomona was found safe in Twentynine Palms Saturday afternoon. According to Sergeant Steve Wilson, a passer-by was driving on Twentynine Palms Highway near Utah Trail about 1:30 Saturday afternoon when noticed an elderly man in his 2000 Ford stranded alongside the highway. The Good Samaritan called police, who discovered the 78-year-old man had been reported missing in Pomona. The Pomona police notified the man's family members who came to pick him up at Hi-Desert Medical Center, where he had been taken as a precaution.

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LANDERS MAN ACCUSED OF TRYING TO BURN DOWN HIS OWN HOUSE
A Landers man was arrested Sunday morning, accused of burning down his family's home. According to Captain Don Westfall, firefighters from Yucca Mesa, Yucca Valley, and Joshua Tree received a call of a structure fire in the 61600 block of Leslie Avenue in Landers shortly after 8 a.m. When firefighters arrived, the 1,000 square-foot home was fully involved in flames, as was a motor home parked behind the house, and a yard full of junk. A family dog was killed in the fire, and it was initially believed the home's owner, Jesse McFadden, was inside the burning building as well. However, Jesse McFadden returned home while firefighters were fighting the blaze. tt took several hours for firefighters to put out the fire and mop up because of all the piles of stuff in and around the home. Firefighters returned to the scene two more times during the day due to flare ups from the wind. The home, out buildings, motor home, and vehicles were a total loss, estimated at $60,000. Witnesses told firefighters that Jesse McFadden's son, Bernard McFadden, 28, had been walking around in a daze, but had left before firefighters arrived, Investigators learned that he had been using a propane torch in his bedroom and the bed caught on fire. Deputies determined Bernard McFadden was under the influence of a controlled substance and methamphetamine was found on him. Bernard McFadden was arrested on suspicion of reckless setting of a fire to an inhabited structure not belonging to him, and possession of a controlled substance, booked at the Morongo Basin Jail, with bail set at $25,000.

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LECTURE THIS THURSDAY ON YUCCA VALLEY ANIMAL CONTROL
The priorities and operation of the Town of Yucca Valley's Animal Control Department will be the focus of a special lecture this Thursday, Reporter Diana Jones has details...
Packs of wild dogs, as well as colonies of feral cats, roam America's city streets and back country roads. Lingering on the edge of domestication, they live in dilapidated buildings, old cars, and sewers—anywhere that will shelter them from summer's blistering heat or winter's bitter cold. Some are abandoned pets; others were born on the streets. In order to survive, these animals have to scavenge garbage or kill wildlife. Town of Yucca Valley Animal Care and Control Manager Melanie Crider and Animal Control Officer Kim Casey will present a lecture, Thursday, August 23, starting at noon, on the Town's Animal Control and Shelter operations, addressing the problems with stray animals, the importance of licensing your dogs, and the newly adopted California animal laws. The lecture is free and iced tea will be served.

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FORMER YUCCA VALLEY MAYOR, COUNCILMAN. WILL RUN AS WRITE-IN CANDIDATE
Three term Former Yucca Valley Town Council member and Mayor, Bob Leone, 77, told Z107.7 news he is planning on running as a write-in candidate for Town Council on the November Ballot. Leone said he is stepping forward because he does not think the current council truly represents all the residents of the Town and are being told what to do by Town Manager Mark Nuaimi. Leone said that when first Chad Mayes, then Frank Luckino resigned, he had applied, but was never even selected for an interview, leading him to believe the subsequent appointments were predetermined. Leone said the Town has insulated itself from its own residents. As an example he said – quote, "Why is it that the council votes for three Town officials to get car allowances, then lays off the front office staff? Now if you try to call the Town, you get a voice mail and can't actually talk to anyone, they may or may not return your call." Leone said he was contacted by a group of citizens who asked him to go through the write-in process and he agreed. He said they told him "they would do it all," as far as campaigning and raising funds.

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A CORRECTION ON A CANDIDATE'S NAME
This correction, in Thursday's news, we identified a Bob Short as challenging incumbents Sarann Graham and Bob Stadum in the Hi-Desert Water District. His name is actually Claude Short. Z107.7 regrets the error and any inconvenience.

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