The following is a news release from the Sacramento Police Department:  The Sacramento Police Department is asking for the community's help with identifying armed robbery suspects. In the evening hours of Tuesday, February 19, 2013, police responded to three separate take-over-type robberies to businesses in the north area of the City of Sacramento. In each instance, three armed gunman enter the businesses and demand cash. Some of the victims were physically assaulted by the aggressive robbers causing minor injuries. The suspects are described as male Hispanic adults, ranging from approximately 5 feet 5 inches tall to 5 feet 9 inches tall, and approximate weight ranging from 140 pounds

The city's fourth homicide of the year stems from a shooting that occurred 36 years ago in Oak Park, which left a man paralyzed until he died Monday of complications. Walter Johnson, 62, died of medical complications that arose from being paralyzed after a shooting in 1977. The shooting occurred April 9, 1977, at about 3:48 a.m., at San Carlos Way between 13th and 14th Avenues. Johnson was driving to his parents' home when he was approached by three Hispanic men, who blocked the roadway with their car at the intersection, according to the Sacramento Police Department. The men walked toward Johnson, who was seated in his car, and confronted him. A struggle ensued and Johnson was shot in

A man was shot Monday night near Dos Rios Triangle, and is expected to survive with non-life threatening injuries. On the 1200 block of Sitka Street, at 9:23 p.m., Sacramento Police Department officers responded to a reported shooting, and found a man who'd been shot in the lower body. The man had gone outside to meet the men he'd been in contact with on the phone, according to the SPD, and as they were talking, one pulled out a gun and shot the victim. The suspects then ran off, and investigating officers were unable to find them. The victim was taken to the hospital. No other information was immediately available on the suspects' description, or the number of them.  

A man suspected of robbing a downtown bank earlier this week was arrested in Oregon and is in the process of being extradited to California. The man – 57-year-old James Dear of New Mexico – is suspected of robbing the FIrst Northern Bank on the 700 block of J Street shortly after 10 a.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 13. He allegedly demanded money from the teller and placed a backpack on the floor after saying it contained a bomb, and fled on foot, according to the Oregon State Police. It was later determined that the backpack was empty, according to the Sacramento Police Department.  Only hours later – at 8:50 p.m. – the Oregon State Police received a complaint of a driver under the influence he

The FBI is investigating a downtown bank robbery, in which the suspect threatened he had a "destructive device" in his backpack Wednesday morning.  The incident occurred at 10:18 a.m., just minutes before the Sacramento Police Department welcomed its new chief at a press conference. On the 700 block of J Street, the suspect approached the bank teller and made threats regarding a destructive device in his backpack; however it was left at the scene and was found to be empty, with nothing dangerous inside, the SPD stated.  The suspect has been described as a white man in his 60s to 70s, about 5'11", wearing a tan hat and a multi-colored hat.  Just minutes later, at 10:30 a.m., Sam Somers,

Police arrested a man suspected of robbing a bank at gunpoint Thursday morning in Oak Park. The robbery was at the U.S. Bank in Oak Park, at Broadway and 34th Street, and occurred at 9:50 a.m. Following the robbery, the suspect got into a gray pickup truck and hit a parked vehicle and police cruiser, before leading police on a car chase down Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard. He eventually collided with a van while heading southbound on Martin Luther King Boulevard, at 12th Street.  The suspect was identified as 45-year-old Ruben Rodriguez, and was arrested on suspicion of robbery, assault on an officer, evading and using a firearm in the commission of a felony. A search of his truck rev

Police have arrested a man and his girlfriend believed to be connected to last Friday's arson/murder on Norwood Avenue, which left a 32-year-old man dead in his home. More details about the incident have also been released, including that the victim was stabbed before the fire was set.  David Acuna, 29, was arrested Wednesday morning on suspicion of murdering 32-year-old Patrick Kendrick. Acuna's girlfriend, 30-year-old Guadalupe Cabrera, is also believed to have been involved in the incident. She was arrested on suspicion of accessory to murder, and arson to an inhabited structure, according to the Sacramento Police Department.  During the course of the investigation, SPD detectives lea

The following is a press release from the Sacramento Police Department:  The Sacramento Police Department has arrested two suspects for murder. On Thursday, January 17, 2013 at approximately 12:44 p.m., police responded to the 3100 block of 39th Street regarding reports of a shooting. Officers quickly arrived and located 19-year-old Anthony Navarro suffering from what appeared to be multiple gunshot wounds. Navarro was transported by emergency medical personnel to an area hospital where he succumbed to his injuries. Homicide investigators arrived on scene and have been working the case ever since. Detectives gathered information that led them to the suspects, their identities, roles in

Two small children were found wandering the streets Saturday afternoon, and when police found their mother, she was arrested on suspicion of having drugs.  Crystal Weed, 28, was arrested on suspicion of possession of methamphetamine and felony child endangerment; her children were placed into protective custody.  On the 4100 block of 34th Street, at 3:43 p.m., Sacramento police responded to a welfare check call, and found two children – ages 3 and 4 – walking in the street unsupervised. Weed was also located, and ultimately arrested. Editor’s note: The “News Digest” goes out every Tuesday morning and highlights our best stories, photos and videos from the week prior. Sign me up.

Don’t Let Us Throw a Flag on Your Driving this Super Bowl Sunday “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” The Sacramento Police Department will conduct a saturation patrol on Sunday, February 3, 2013, for 5 to 7 hours after the Super Bowl. The purpose of the saturation patrol is to promote public safety and serve as a deterrent to potentially impaired, unlicensed and dangerous drivers. Don't forget to designate a driver to and from your Super Bowl party this year. Plan ahead and don't get caught off sides and impaired! DUI/Traffic Officers will be deployed throughout the city looking for dangerous and impaired drivers to help ensure our streets stay safe. Funding for this program was provided

Patrick Kendrick's neighbors thought they heard his cries as flames rose from his apartment, but when they broke down the door to reach him, they realized it was too late. "We had to break the door open in order to get to him, but by the time we tried to run in there and get him, it was on fire, it was all blazed up, couldn't help him," neighbor Eric Kelley said. Police are investigating the "unusual circumstances" that led to the man's death Friday morning on the 3700 block of Norwood Avenue in Del Paso Heights. Kendrick was found inside his apartment after the fire was extinguished by the Sacramento Fire Department. Due to the "obvious trauma" found on his upper body, police were c

Police are investigating the possible homicide of a man following a fire at a home in Del Paso Heights, in which his body was found. Details are unraveling, but the incident occurred on the 3700 block of Norwood Avenue, and police are looking for a suspect, described as a Hispanic man in his 20s, driving an older white Honda Civic without hubcaps. Our live coverage of this story has ended. You can read our full story here, and our updates as they happened below.  l;l 

On Wednesday, January 30, 2013 at approximately 4:20 p.m., the Sacramento Police Department responded to Del Paso Boulevard and Southgate Road on a report of two subjects who had been stabbed. Officers arrived and found two female victims in their twenties suffering from multiple stab wounds. Fire department personnel also responded and transported both victims to an area hospital where they are currently being treated for their injuries. At this time it is believed an altercation occurred involving the occupants of two separate vehicles. The incident appears to have started in the area of Northgate Boulevard and the Arden Garden Connector. The victims pulled over, exited their vehicle,

Police arrested a man suspected of a "cycle-by" shooting Tuesday afternoon on 37th Street. A home on the 3300 block of 37th Street was hit with gunfire by a known suspect, who reportedly rode by on a bicycle and fired multiple shots at the victim's home, according to the Sacramento Police Department. No one inside was injured, and officers canvassed the area. During a follow-up investigation, the suspect – Elias Rizak, 36 – was found at his home, along with a firearm. He was arrested on suspicion of multiple charges, including shooting into an inhabited dwelling, assault with a deadly weapon, and negligent discharge of a firearm. The incident occurred at 1:57 p.m.  

A man was robbed at gunpoint early Tuesday morning, only to have his property later returned when police found it at the scene of the crime. On the 900 block of 15th Street, at 1:45 a.m., the victim was approached by two suspects in a vehicle when the passenger produced a gun, according to the Sacramento Police Department. The victim complied with the suspect's demand for his property, and placed the items on the ground before fleeing on foot. The victim then called the police; officers checked the area and found the victim's property, as the suspects apparently left it behind at the scene. No specific description of the vehicle or the suspects was available.  

The city council is expected to tackle a slew of hot items Tuesday night, including a marijuana dispensary ordinance, the mid-year budget adjustments and a report on city employees' credit card purchases.  The mid-year budget report – which makes recommendations on which city departments' budgets should be cut or bolstered – does not include any more money for the police department, much to the ire of some Midtowners.  Midtown resident George Raya said money from Measure U should be used now to help the police department, given the crime in the neighborhood. “We passed Measure U to restore cuts made to law enforcement, to fire, parks and rec,” he said. “So why are we going to wait until

A man was arrested on suspicion of child endangerment after allegedly leaving his 2-year-old daughter in a car for more than an hour while he was inside a casino really early Wednesday morning.  At 1:41 a.m., on the 6000 block of Stockton Boulevard, police officers were hailed by a security guard who noticed movement in a parked vehicle in the area. Upon investigation, police found a girl, 2, unharmed, who'd apparently been left in the vehicle for more than an hour. Her father, Joseph Paiva, 25, was found at a nearby business – the Lotus Casino – and arrested on suspicion of felony child endangerment. The girl was placed into the custody of child protective services.  Editor’s note: The

The name of the suspect involved in a police standoff Wednesday in Tahoe Park has been released, and officials say he may have been running due to his warrant from another county.  Antwan Adger, 49, was eventually arrested on suspicion of kidnapping, false imprisonment, burglary and his outstanding arrest warrant, according to the Sacramento Police Department. Following a high-speed chase with the California Highway Patrol that ultimately ended when Adger hit a parked car on Kroy Way and Broadway, he allegedly fled on foot and holed up in a nearby home. The female resident was taken hostage, but eventually walked out of her home uninjured, with two dogs, to awaiting officers. Not much la

In response to a reader's question about a fatal incident that occurred over the weekend in East Sacramento, we contacted the police for the full story. Below is what we found out: A man committed suicide in East Sacramento Saturday morning, though police tried to stop him. The 39-year-old man was inside a home on the 1100 block of 43rd Street, where he is said to have stabbed himself. Police used several non-lethal methods to stop him from killing himself, and rendered medical aid on the scene,  but the man did not survive.   "It was a very unfortunate, sad situation," said Sacramento Police Department Spokesman Doug Morse The call for a welfare check came in at 9:10 a.m., and resulte

Two women were arrested Monday in connection with a bizarre home invasion robbery, in which a 2-year-old child was used to gain access to a home.  On the 6200 block of 2nd Avenue, at 4:32 p.m., two women allegedly knocked on a woman's door and asked if their young child could use the restroom, the Sacramento Police Department reported. The victim had already opened the front door, but was skeptical to open the screen door.   This did not stop the two women, who opened the screen door and walked inside, "brushing the victim to the side," the SPD reported. Then two unknown men walked inside and started talking to the victim. She didn't believe their story of having previously been neighbor