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Sunnyside Police Nov.98

We only put up photos of those charged in connection with violence toward others

Police arrest Sunnyside burglars

SUNNYSIDE (Monday, 11-30-98)--Acting on information from the victim, police today arrested two Sunnyside residents and charged each of them with first degree burglary.

 

Stolen from Maria Garcia's residence at 1109 Roosevelt Court was a 30.06 rifle, Nintendo 64 and a phone, police said. Police acted on a complaint by Lupe Garcia at 7:15 p.m.

 

Police said information gathered led to the arrest of Victor Flores, 22, of 1115 Roosevelt Court, and Rafael Mendoza, 17, 1109 Roosevelt Court. Mendoza also was cited for failure to appear in a different burglary charge.

 

Police said the rifle was recovered in Mabton, and the Nintendo in Outlook. Further arrests and charges are expected in connection with the burglary, according to Det. Sgt. Jim Rivard.

 

Cops arrest 2 in burglary attempt

SUNNYSIDE (Sunday, 11-22-98)--Police have arrested two men in connection with a burglary attempt on a residence in the 900 block of Lincoln Ave. at 3 a.m. today, according to reports.

 

Witnesses reported two thugs trying to break into a house at 911 Lincoln Ave. Witnesses said they had already broken into two cars parked by the residence.

 

As Reserve Officer Steve Zetz approached, the suspects fled on foot. He was able to chase after them and take one into custody. The second suspect was arrested at his residence a short distance away.

 

Arrested in connection with the incident were Louis A. Cavasos, 19, of 724 S. 8th St., Sunnyside, and Benjamin Leon, 17, also of Sunnyside. Cavasos was booked into Sunnyside jail pending formal charges. Leon was released to his parents pending filing of formal charges in juvenile court.

 

Det. Sgt. Ed Radder reported nothing was taken from the victim's residence during the burglary attempt. He noted that suspects fled when the victim woke up and scared them away. He said investigations are continuing to see if Cavasos and Leon have been involved in other thefts or burglaries.

 

 

Knife fighters arrested in hospital

SUNNYSIDE (Saturday, 11-28-98)--Two knife fighters were arrested at after they cut each other up, according to police.

 

The two reportedly were involved in a knife fight inside a residence in the 500 block of S. 12th St. Police said it appeared each had a knife. The two men were treated and released from Sunnyside Community Hospital, and later were charged with second degree assault.

 

Arrested in connection with the incident was Hilario G. Prieto, 21, of 304 Reservation St., Mabton, and Francisco A. Valencia, 26, Sunnyside

Police need to ID truck thief

SUNNYSIDE (Friday, 11-20-98)--Alejandro Garcia, 27, was coming out of La Fogata Restaurant, 1204 Yakima Valley Hwy., when he spotted someone driving away in his pickup truck.

 

Garcia told the guy not to leave the parking lot, but when the thief ignored him, he grabbed onto the tailgate. The unknown driver then sped out of the lot taking Garcia with him. Garcia continued to cling to the truck for 1.5 miles to a point near the intersection of Hwy 241 and Sheller Rd.

 

No longer able to hold onto the vehicle, Garcia dropped to the roadway, police said.

 

The thief continued to flee three quarters of a mile eastbound on Sheller, where he crashed off the roadway. Garcia used a cell phone to call a friend, who took him to Sunnyside Community Hospital, police said. He was treated for large abrasions on his leg, arms, hands, chest and head.

 

Police are hunting for suspect(s) in the incident, according to Det. Sgt. Ed Radder.

 

Car thefts lead to two arrests

SUNNYSIDE (Thursday, 11-19-98)--Auto thefts here and in Toppenish led police detectives to arrest two Sunnyside area men according to Det. Jose Treviño.

 

Working with the Toppenish PD, detectives learned of a stolen Monte Carlo out of Toppenish. The Monte was recovered at 1235 Mabton-Sunnyside Hwy in Sunnyside. After obtaining warrants, detectives searched the joint and recovered auto parts from several stolen vehicles.

 

Arrested and charged with auto theft were Javier A. Arias, 20, and Juan Carlos Sanabria, both of the Mabton-Sunnyside Highway address.

 

Police believe the men were involved in stealing the Monte, plus theft of a vehicle from the Sunnyside High School parking lot .

 

In the course of the investigation, officers also obtained a warrant to search a residence in the 500 block of Bagley Drive. The investigation is continuing, according to Treviño.

 

Man arrested for indecent exposure

SUNNYSIDE (Tuesday, 11-17-98)--As an 11-year old girl walked with her friend in the 1500 block of E. Harrison Ave., they spotted a man in a car fondling his genitals, police said.

 

The girls reported the incident to the school crossing guard, who passed it on to police in the area. Officer John Cunningham stopped the man's car as he was attempting to leave. Interviewing the girl, cops discovered the same man had exposed himself to them a week ago as well and in the same location.

 

Cunningham arrested Isaac Macias, 30, in connection with the incidents and charged him on two counts of indecent exposure, according to reports.

 

Park & Pak burglar nailed

SUNNYSIDE (Monday, 11-16-98)--Sunnyside Police caught one of two burglars of the Park & Pak convenience store, 905 Lincoln Ave., at 4:35 a.m. Sunday.

 

Police said they answered a burglary alarm at the store, located at Ninth and Lincoln. When the first officer arrived, he spotted two suspects coming out of the building carrying cases of beer. When they saw the cop, they dropped the beer and fled.

 

Reserve Officer Steve Zetz chased the thugs over fences, and through several yards until he collared one and arrested him. The other got away for the time being.

 

Arrested in connection with the incident was Gilberto Bucio Mendoza, 23, of 1408 E. Jackson Ave., who was charged with burglary and a couple prior arrest warrants for traffic violations. The other guy is identified and a warrant has been issued for his arrest, police said.

 

Police recovered a dozen cases of beer and several packs of cigarettes at the scene.

Police capture alleged gang shooter

SUNNYSIDE (Wednesday, 11-11-98)--Sunnyside Police have located in California a Sunnyside youth wanted in connection with an October gang shooting in the north part of town.

 

Police intend to bring back Mario D. Sandoval, 17, of 300 S. 3rd St., to face second degree assault charges.

 

They believe Sandoval fired a weapon at another vehicle occupied by four rival gang members on Sunnyside's Fairview Avenue Oct. 12. They also believe Sandoval was both the driver and shooter, who then immediately fled to Los Angeles.

 

Detective Kent Coffman said Sunnyside worked with the Los Angles PD's Fugitive Warrant Service Division to capture Sandoval. The Yakima County Prosecutor's office is moving to extradite Sandoval, he said.

Once Sandoval is returned to Yakima, he will be booked into the county jail for four counts of second degree assault.

October incident--car chase, shooting

Rival gangs came together last month in the 500 block of Fairview Ave. in North Sunnyside. No injuries were reported.

 

Arrested on four counts of second degree assault after the October incident was Jose Lopez, 17, of 1150 Alexander Ext., Grandview.

 

Roman Garcia, 17, of 701 Woods Rd., Sunnyside, was also arrested and charged as an accomplice to second degree assault. Sandoval got away.

 

Police said on-the-scene evidence and their investigation led to the recovery of a firearm from the home of one of the suspects. It was believed to be the firearm used in the assault.

 

Coffman said in October that, "At this time the shooting appears to have been started by a rival gang conflict which led to the car chase and shooting in a residential area of the city."

 

August incident--gun running

Sandoval has a history with guns. He was arrested by Sunnyside police Aug. 22 for an illegal gun transfer. In that incident, cops answered a complaint about a loud party in the 800 block of Yakima Valley Highway just after midnight.

Det. Sgt. Jim Rivard said in August that one party-goer, Jose Escobar, 14, of 220 S. 3rd St.,was found in possession of a .40 caliber, semiautomatic pistol. He was arrested and charged with being a minor in possession of a firearm, and minor consuming alcohol.

 

Police later arrested Sandoval at his home, and charged him with delivering the pistol to his neighbor, Escobar, a minor. Sandoval wasn't at the August party.

 

As police searched Sandoval's home, they found an SKS rifle, which they seized. (Click on underlined names to see their mugs)

 

Walmart employee arrested for theft

SUNNYSIDE (Tuesday, 11-10-98)--A Walmart employee has been arrested for stealing more than $1,500 worth of electronic and other goods, according to police. More arrests are expected, police said.

 

Police said thefts were discovered by store security managers. Walmart staff detained the employee--on the job for three months--until police arrived.

 

Police later recovered more than $1,000 worth of merchandise.

 

Arrested and charged with first degree felony theft charges was Paul James Bejar, 28, who resides in his vehicle. He was booked in Sunnyside and was set to be transported to Yakima County Superior Court for prosecution.

 

Detective Kent Coffman said investigation of the incident is ongoing, with more arrests likely to come.

 

Man jailed after Blue Moon melee

SUNNYSIDE (Friday, 11-6-98)-- Early today, Daniel Partida reportedly got into a fight with someone at the Blue Moon Tav, 624 E. Edison.

 

Witnesses say Partida, of 1016 S. 10th St., Sunnyside, caused hundreds of dollars in damage inside the water hole.

 

When Sgt. Ed Radder arrived and tried to detain Partida by grabbing hold of his shoulder, Partida pushed Radder away and fled westbound in the alley toward 6th street. As Radder pursued him, Partida peeled off his coat and threw it in front of Radder, tripping the police sergeant. Turns out this is a trick Partida has pulled before.

 

Radder fell to the pavement, sliding along on his knees. Partida continued to flee.

 

Radder got back up and pursued Partida, yelling for him to stop, that he was "under arrest". Partida continued an erratic course on downtown streets until he ran up the alley toward the Yakima Herald Republic office on Decatur Avenue. That's when he saw Officer John Chumley's car coming toward him.

 

Shortly thereafter, Partida circled around to where the chase began behind the Blue Moon.

 

Finally Sgt. Radder and Officers Chumley and Corey Rosen caught Partida. The three officers wrestled with him until they were able to put him into handcuffs. Then they deposited Partida into Chumley's car.

 

Enroute to jail, Partida reportedly spat a lot in the back seat of the patrol car. When Chumley told Partida not to spit, Partida told Chumley, "F--- you; I know who you are, I know you live in town, and I know who your family is." Partida continued to spit until he became nauseous and vomited.

 

Cops booked Partida into Sunnyside Jail. He was charged with resisting arrest, third-degree escape, lying to a cop and on multiple outstanding warrants for his arrest. Partida was at first placed in a drunk tank. But he kicked and punched the door glass so much he was taken out and secured in an isolation cell until he calmed down.

 

During the chase, Sgt. Radder dropped his metal PD clipboard. When he returned to where he dropped it, he found a car had driven over and destroyed it. Moreover, he noticed that, when he hit the ground after being tripped, his uniform sleeve was torn. A very large hole was ripped in the left knee of his uniform pants, destroying them as well. Radder also will have to toss a new pair of Bates high-gloss shoes. The entire uniform is unserviceable.

 

Radder also scraped both his knees in the melee. His left knee required treatment in the Sunnyside Community Hospital emergency room for severe abrasions. Partida will be asked to pay restitution for a new uniform, Bates shoes, and any medical expenses incurred by the city and Labor and Industries.

 

A police report also notes Partida has an "extremely extensive criminal history" record in Washington, Oregon, and Texas.

 

Police bust car prowlers at Walmart

SUNNYSIDE (Thursday, 11-5-98)--Employees and customers at Walmart spotted three young thugs trying to break into cars in the store's parking lot at 6:30 a.m. Wednesday.

 

Based on eyewitness information, police arrested three Sunnysiders as they drove away from the scene. Officers recovered a stolen stereo from the suspects' car.

 

Arrested in connection with the incident were:

Rafael Morfin, 20, of 2400 E. Edison Ave.

Jose Pineda, 20, of 420 Victory Way

Jose Garcia, 17, of 728 11th St.

Police said Pineda and Morfin lied about their identity during the bust. Once correct information was obtained, police discovered misdemeanor warrants out on Pineda from Yakima County District Court, and for Morfin out of Benton County District Court.

All three were booked into Sunnyside City Jail. Garcia later was released to his mother. Morfin and Pineda remain in custody.

 

Pineda was charged as an accomplice to vehicle prowling, as a minor in consumption and possession, driving with a suspended license, and lying to a cop. The Yakima District Court warrant was for two counts of Pineda's being minor in consumption and possession.

 

Morfin was charged as an accomplice to vehicle prowling, as a minor in consumption and possession, and on the Benton county warrant for driving with a suspended license.

 

Garcia was charged with vehicle prowling, and as a minor in possession and consumption.

 

Sgt. Ed Radder said police arrested the trio with help from several persons willing to get involved when they saw the suspects committing vehicle prowls.

 

"This is a prime example of what can be accomplished when people work together in fighting crime. This assistance is greatly appreciated by the police department," Radder said.

 

Police arrest Sunnyside robber

SUNNYSIDE (Tuesday, 11-3-98)--Police have arrested a Mabton man for assaulting and robbing a man at knifepoint at 1 a.m. yesterday at Saul and Ida Belle Rds.

 

Arrested was Moises G. Lopez, 40, of 229 S. 5th Ave., Mabton. The victim reportedly was Ken Kiehn, 41, of Prosser.

 

Police said Lopez approached Kiehn, struck up a conversation, then struck Kiehn on the left side of the face. Lopez reportedly produced a knife, and at knifepoint demanded Kiehn's cigarettes and money.

Sunnyside police arrested Lopez a short distance away from the scene of the incident. He was transferred to Yakima County Jail pending filing of charges including second degree armed assault and armed robbery.