Occidental
CRIME & SAFETY
Meth and Drug Paraphernalia Found in Rohnert Park Traffic Stop
A meth pipe and suspected meth were found during a traffic stop in Rohnert Park. Yesterday, an officer pulled over a vehicle for an obstructed license plate and a broken brake light, as well as a turn signal violation. The driver had a suspended license, and the passenger was on Sonoma County probation and subject to search. During the search of the vehicle, the officer found a meth pipe, various drug paraphernalia, and 26 grams of suspected meth. Ultimately, it was the driver, Wesley Auten, who was cited to appear for driving on a suspended license, possession of a controlled substance, and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Sonoma County Man Identified as Murder Victim in Point Arena
Mendocino County investigators released the name of the Sonoma County man who was fatally shot last week during an argument east of Point Arena. 54-year-old Kevin Taeuffer, an Annapolis resident, was pronounced dead Thursday at a home on Eureka Hill Road. An autopsy is scheduled for Wednesday to identify the cause of death. 47-year-old Point Arena resident Pan Jasper Brady was arrested last week on suspicion of murder. Mendocino County jail records show he was released Saturday after posting $500,000 bail. As of Tuesday, prosecutors had yet to file official charges in the case.
Santa Rosa Man Charged with Narcotics Possession and Child Endangerment Following Police Raid
The Santa Rosa Police Department (SRPD) took into custody one Issac Elias Romero, 33, of Santa Rosa, the latest chapter in a drawn-out battle against local narcotics operations. The SRPD Narcotics Team, chasing leads since April earlier this year, made the break in the case yesterday when they detained Romero following the execution of a search warrant on Guerneville Road, as reported by the City of Santa Rosa.
Santa Rosa Traffic Stop Turns Up Handgun and Cannabis
A handgun and cannabis were found during a traffic stop in Santa Rosa Tuesday afternoon. An officer pulled over a vehicle at the Corby Avenue off ramp at Highway 101 over a missing front license plate. Upon contacting the two occupants, the officer noticed a very strong odor of cannabis coming from the vehicle and saw loose bud scattered throughout the interior. A search of the vehicle revealed a single bullet in the center console and a privately manufactured pistol in the trunk. Elman Mejia Mazariegos and Husvardo Escobar Lopez were arrested and charged for crimes related to firearms and drugs. Lopez was also charged for an outstanding Contra Costa County warrant for felony vehicle theft.
Fire causes $200,000 in damage, forces temporary closure of Santa Rosa salon
A northeast Santa Rosa salon is closed temporarily after a fire Wednesday morning caused $200,000 in damage to the building, fire officials said. Magnolia Salon was filled with smoke when Santa Rosa firefighters arrived just after 8:10 a.m. to the 2700 block of Fourth Street, Battalion Chief Jason Jenkins said in a news release. Crews found the fire near a salon workstation on the first floor ...
Police Log, July 1-17
7:53am The Reporting Party (RP) wanted a person in the bathroom at Quail & Condor to leave. The person had a guitar with her. An officer responded, but the subject was gone on arrival (GOA) and unable to be located (UTBL). 1:08pm The RP indicated that a vehicle was on...
Dog rescued after Santa Rosa apartment fire that displaces 4 residents
Four residents were displaced Thursday morning after a fire damaged their northern Santa Rosa apartment. Luis Ramos said he left the two-story unit in the 800 block of Russell Avenue for work around 7:30 a.m. but went back to grab his wallet and “out of nowhere I heard a loud boom.” “I started to smell smoke,” Ramos, 31, told a Press Democrat reporter. He went upstairs and found black smoke ...
Santa Rosa Police Get Top Honor from MADD for DUI Enforcement
Santa Rosa police have been named “2024 MADD Outstanding Agency of the Year” for their DUI Enforcement Efforts. Mothers Against Drunk Driving or MADD gave the department the recognition for their traffic safety and enforcement efforts in 2023. Last year, Santa Rosa police made 858 DUI arrests, an 85-percent increase from 2022. There were 27 officers who made 10 or more DUI arrests each in 2023, compared to 12 officers the year before. SRPD credit several tactics for their success including increased enforcement, DUI checkpoints, and community engagement events such as the popular “Know Your Limit” nights in Old Courthouse Square.
Audit of Santa Rosa Police Highlights Improvements and Weaknesses
An independent auditor is releasing the results of a detailed analysis of the Santa Rosa Police Department. Southern California-based OIR Group says the department improved its accountability and handling of internal investigations last year. But, it needs to take a more comprehensive approach to analyzing police practices. OIR Group looked at 56 allegations of misconduct made against the Santa Rosa Police Department in 2023, which was a dozen fewer than in 2022. It also examined 20 random cases out of nearly 200 where officers used force. The report commended officers for activating their body-worn cameras every time they responded to a scene.
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