News 24/7

Banning police nab suspected serial bank robber

Fri, 24 Apr 2009 10:30:30 -0800

A Yucaipa man suspected in a series of bank robberies led police on a four-city chase Thursday before he was captured and arrested.

Fran Liggins, 46, was booked into jail on suspicion of robbery.

Police received a call of an armed robbery at the Chase Bank, 1118 W. Ramsey St. at 1:55 p.m. Officers said the suspect entered the business and demanded money from the tellers.

He fled with cash. A security guard pointed out the robber to a Banning police officer who came to the scene.

Liggins led the officer on a chase through Banning, Beaumont, Calimesa and Yucaipa.

Authorities caught him near his home in the 34700 block of Avenue E in Yucaipa, police said.

Police say Liggins is a suspect in two San Jacinto bank robberies late last year, two in Calimesa in January and one in Banning in February. Police are working with the Riverside County Sheriff's Department to determine if he is responsible for the additional heists.

melissa.pinion-whitt@inlandnewspapers.com

Yucaipa man dies following fight with girlfriend's brother

Mon, 13 Apr 2009 09:24:10 -0800

A 47-year-old Yucaipa man died Sunday after his girlfriend's brother punched him, sheriff's officials said.

San Bernardino County sheriff's deputies said Norman Richards was at a home in the 12600 block of Autumn Leaves Street in the Spring Valley Lake area of Victorville.

He got into a fight with his girlfriend's brother, who punched Richards one time. Richards fell and struck his head on the tile floor.

Deputies and paramedics came to the home at 8:47 p.m. and found Richards unconscious. He died at Loma Linda University Medical Center.

Sheriff's homicide detectives are investigating the man's death, but no arrests have been made. Investigators are waiting on autopsy results to determine the man's cause of death.

Anyone with information may call Detective Scott Landen, (909) 387-3589.

melissa.pinion-whitt@inlandnewspapers.com

Three teens suspected of tagging Yucaipa school, park

Thu, 19 Mar 2009 12:02:54 -0800

Sheriff's deputies said they have arrested three teens who are suspected of tagging walls at a school and city park in Yucaipa over the weekend.

About $1,300 worth of damage was done by the graffiti to the gymnasium wall at the Ninth Grade Campus and the public bathrooms at 7th Street Park, officials said.

The juveniles, who were arrested and then released to their parents, were not identified because they are under 18.

stacia.glenn@inlandnewspapers.com

Pair suspected in Yucaipa slaying

Tue, 17 Mar 2009 10:30:32 -0800

Sheriff's deputies have arrested a man and woman on suspicion of killing a Yucaipa man and stealing his vehicle, officials said today.

Kristy L. Hernandez, 28, was booked into Central Detention Center in San Bernardino on an arrest warrant for a narcotics violation, San Bernardino County sheriff's officials said.

Deputies booked Jose Mendieta, 29, into West Valley Detention Center in Rancho Cucamonga on suspicion of violating parole. The Yucaipa residents were both held without bail.

The pair are suspects in the death of Crisoforo Bello, 23, of Yucaipa, who suffered a serious chest wound while being attacked by two people in the 13000 block of Third Street on March 10, sheriff's officials said. Authorities have not specified whether he was shot or stabbed.

Neighbors awoke at 1:37 a.m. to the sound of people yelling and arguing in the street. Bello started banging on a resident's door, asking for help.

The victim's 2003 Ford Taurus was found in La Quinta on Saturday.

Sheriff's investigators plan to submit reports on both suspects to the San Bernardino County District Attorney's Office for consideration of murder charges.

melissa.pinion-whitt@inlandnewspapers.com

Three arrested on suspicion of home invasion robbery in Yucaipa

Sat, 14 Mar 2009 12:32:58 -0800

Three High Desert residents were arrested Friday night after tying a Yucaipa family up while they ransacked their home and then leading sheriff's deputies on a short pursuit, authorities said.

Ronald Linneman, 30, of Hesperia; Diane Hudson, 44, of Victorville; and Lisa Ooley, 30, of Phelan were booked at West Valley Detention Center in Rancho Cucamonga on suspicion of home invasion robbery.

A Yucaipa couple opened the front door of their home in the 120000 block of Lantana Avenue about 8 p.m. and the suspects pushed them back inside at gunpoint, according to a San Bernardino County sheriff's news release.

They were then bound with duct tape and rope while the suspects ransacked the house and piled the stolen items into the victim's vehicle trunk, deputies said.

The vehicle was eventually tracked to a Hesperia home and led deputies on a short chase.

The driver managed to escape but the passenger, Hudson, was taken into a custody. Deputies arrested Linneman as he drove away in another vehicle from the Hesperia home. Ooley was the passenger in his car.

The items stolen from the Yucaipa house were found inside Linneman's vehicle and the Hesperia home. It was not immediately clear whether any of the suspects lived there.

Sheriff's detectives investigating Yucaipa homicide

Tue, 10 Mar 2009 11:40:27 -0800

A Yucaipa man was killed and his vehicle was stolen on Third Street this morning.

Crisoforo Bello, 23, died at Loma Linda University Medical Center at 2:23 a.m., San Bernardino County sheriff's officials said.

Residents in the 13000 block of Third Street heard people yelling outside at 1:37 a.m. The victim banged on a door asking for help.

Residents then saw a couple of people standing near a light vehicle.

Sheriff's investigators said Bello's 2003 Ford Taurus was taken during the attack. The four-door vehicle is gray and has paper plates with Unique Auto in black and white lettering.

Anyone with information may call Sgt. Tony DeCecio or Jason Radeleff, (909)387-3589. Anonymous callers may contact WeTip, (800) 78-CRIME.

melissa.pinion-whitt@inlandnewspapers.com

Tickets selling for Yucaipa's State of the City luncheon

Fri, 06 Mar 2009 11:30:59 -0800

Tickets are on sale now to attend Yucaipa's annual State of the City Luncheon, which is scheduled for Thursday.

Mayor Dick Riddell and City Manager Ray Casey will give a report on what the city has accomplished in the past year, including its developments and financial status.

Tickets are $25 per person, and include a meal choice of chardonnay chicken or a vegetarian entree with lemon rice, a vegetable trio, salad, roll, drinks and dessert.

Thursday's 11:30 a.m. luncheon will be held at the Yucaipa Community Center, 34900 Oak Glen Rd.

Reservations are mandatory and are recommended to be made by today by calling the Yucaipa Valley Chamber of Commerce office at 790-1841 or emailing info@yucaipachamber.org.

Substance found at Yucaipa High gym prompts hazamat response

Tue, 03 Mar 2009 13:05:34 -0800

Firefighters and hazardous materials personnel came to Yucaipa High School this morning after students claimed to be sickened from exposure to a substance in the gymnasium.

Firefighters came to the scene at 33000 Yucaipa Boulevard at 10:51 a.m. and determined about 50 people were exposed to the substance, which was later found to be inert, said California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection Capt. Frank Wilson. The substance was in the boys' gym.

Fire officials did not disclose what the substance was, but said it was a liquid.

No students were taken to hospitals.

melissa.pinion-whitt@inlandnewspapers.com

Yucaipa Thunderbirds reach CIF semifinals

Fri, 27 Feb 2009 12:45:26 -0800

From Yucaipa Now.

YUCAIPA - The coin flips may not be going their way of late, but that hasn't stopped the Yucaipa girls' soccer team from winning.

Twice now in the CIF-Southern Section Division II Playoffs, the Thunderbirds have lost the coin flip that determines which team garners home-field advantage.

But it doesn't seem to deter the Thunderbirds. Yucaipa took to the freeways on Tuesday and defeated Burbank, 4-1. Then on Thursday they loaded up their gear and set out for Chaminade High School of West Hills for a quarterfinal match.

And yet again the long drive didn't seem to bother the Thunderbirds as they knocked off the Eagles, 1-0, in the first overtime on Kodi Lavrusky's breakaway goal.

The win improves the Thunderbirds to 3-0 in the playoffs and sends them into the semifinals where they will take on Harvard-Westlake of North Hollywood, which defeated University of Irvine, 4-1, in the other quarterfinal match on Thursday.

And again, the Thunderbirds must travel to meet the Harvard-Westlake Wolverines on their home turf on Tuesday, March 3rd.

In the Chaminade victory, Lavrusky's goal came in the 8th minute of the first overtime, said Yucaipa Head Coach, Sheila Huggins. And it was dramatic.

Huggins describes the game-winner that has the Thunderbirds two wins away from a CIF Championship this way:

UPDATE: Three people taken to hospital after Yucaipa crash

Thu, 19 Feb 2009 19:01:07 -0800

Three people were transported to local hospitals after the Yucaipa crash on the eastbound 10 Freeway that led to a Sig Alert.

The 6 p.m. crash took place near Yucaipa Boulevard.

A Cal Fire dispatcher said she did not believe the injuries were serious.

UPDATE: Sig Alert on 10 Freeway in Yucaipa

Thu, 19 Feb 2009 18:15:14 -0800

A crash on the eastbound 10 Freeway near Yucaipa Boulevard has caused the California Highway Patrol to issue a Sig Alert.

Crash ties up 10 Freeway in Yucaipa

Thu, 19 Feb 2009 18:10:20 -0800

A number of vehicles were involved in a 6:03 p.m. crash on the eastbound 10 Freeway west of Yucaipa Boulevard in Yucaipa, according to the California Highway Patrol's incident page.

At least some lanes are blocked, and a person may be lying in the roadway.

Eric Brockway released from jail after accepting plea offer in death threat case

Fri, 13 Feb 2009 14:50:48 -0800

A man accused of threatening to kill an alleged victim and witness following his acquittal on attempted murder charges has been released from police custody after agreeing to plead guilty to a felony count of witness intimidation.

Eric Brockway, 34, was arrested and charged with four felonies in September after he told a mental-health professional he needed care because of his homicidal thoughts.

Less than a week before his visit to the Yucaipa clinic, Brockway was acquitted by a Pomona Superior Court jury of the attempted murder of David Gregory, a Mt. Baldy resident who nearly died in 2007 after being hacked with a samurai sword

Crash leads to Sig Alert on 10 Freeway in Yucaipa

Thu, 12 Feb 2009 19:55:39 -0800

A rollover crash caused a Sig Alert on the eastbound 10 Freeway at Live Oak Canyon Road in Yucaipa Thursday night.

The Sig Alert was issued at 6:21 p.m., following the 5:49 p.m. crash.

The crash did not cause life-threatening injuries, fire officials said.

Yucaipa's Dunlap Elementary School closing off the agenda for now

Wed, 11 Feb 2009 14:00:24 -0800

Shortly after the beginning of the board of education meeting Tuesday night, about 250 Dunlap Elementary School parents, teachers, and supporters got the news they hoped for when Yucaipa Calimesa Joint Unified School District Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Sherry Kendrick, announced that the proposed closing of Dunlap was being pulled off the evening's agenda.

A huge roar erupted. Signs held by children and adults stating, "Save Dunlap, save our teachers," and "The children need their school" were thrust into the air. Applause rang out, and tears of relief and joy glistened in the eyes of relieved parents and teachers.