CRIME & SAFETY

Calaveras County, CA – The San Andreas Unit of the CHP wants to alert the public to two scams currently hitting Calaveras County; the main target is seniors. The unit received two complaints regarding similar telephone scams that “target and scare elderly victims.” The CHP reports that both scams claimed to represent a law enforcement agency and threatened arrest due to bank fraud, money laundering, and other misdeeds. They then request the victim’s social security numbers and other identifying information, as well as bank routing numbers and cash payments, in order to stop the immediate arrest.

A woman who deputies have been searching for in connection with a murder in March was arrested on Thursday afternoon, according to the Tuolumne County Sheriff's Office. Sabrina Starkweather, 28, was one of three suspects in the death of 63-year-old Ben Lindsey, who lived in Columbia on Calle Quartz Drive. An autopsy revealed that blunt force trauma was the cause of his death.

Sonora, CA – A Jamestown man could spend the rest of his life in prison for murder. Yesterday (Thursday, May 25), Tuolumne County District Attorney Cassandra Jenecke announced that 51-year-old Steve Berrigan was sentenced to 9 years, 4 months, plus 55 years to life in state prison. He was convicted of the first-degree murder of 76-year-old Craig Arthur Hale of Twain Harte, as well as identity theft and driving a stolen vehicle.

Sonora, CA — CHP officers are out in force this Memorial Day weekend in the Mother Lode, making sure motorists are following the rules of the road. The CHP Maximum Enforcement Period (MEP) began at 6 p.m. yesterday. They advise drivers hitting the road to remember to buckle up, obey speed limits, and avoid distractions. Also, never drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs. If you do celebrate, plan ahead and designate a sober driver or use rideshare services.

Update at 4:35 p.m.: Calaveras County Sheriff’s officials have released an update on an incident in the 300 block of Pope Street in San Andreas where deputies were trying to “de-escalate a situation with a suspect.”. Sheriff’s spokesperson Lt. Greg Stark detailed that the incident started around 7:15...

Update, 9:13 p.m.: Cal Fire TCU reported that firefighters have fully contained the Reed Fire. Update, 5:13 p.m.: Cal Fire TCU reported that the fire is 60% contained. It was determined that equipment (a grinder) was the cause of the fire, and the responsible party was cited. Update, 3:39 p.m.:...

A man and a woman who robbed and assaulted a 69-year-old man in an unincorporated area of Riverside County near Indio pleaded guilty to felony charges and were immediately sentenced to state prison today.    Brooke Cassidy Prentiss, 36, and Morgan Kenneth Styre, 27 -- residents of Sonora, in Tuolumne County -- were charged with The post Sonora pair who assaulted, robbed elder near Indio plead guilty, immediately sentenced appeared first on KESQ.

CALAVERAS COUNTY — Cal Fire was down in Calaveras County Tuesday conducting a prescribed burn with an interesting piece of equipment not often seen.The concept of backburning is a well-known firefighting technique, but doing so from a helicopter is something we don't often see. It could, however, be a bigger part of Cal Fire's fight in the future.A prescribed burn is nothing new to Cal Fire or residents in certain parts of Calaveras County."It's a way that we can light fire on our terms as opposed to an out-of-control wildland fire," said Matt Harrison with Cal Fire.This is something we...

Twain Harte, CA – After a man collapsed in a Twain Harte business and was luckily saved by an off-duty police officer who administered CPR, a life-saving plan was hatched. “That incident always stuck in my mind when it came to ‘right place at the right time’ for the person in need, but it also brought up the question, how can we add another layer of protection to those who reside and visit Twain Harte?” asked TH Fire Chief Neil Gamez. “When the opportunity presented itself for a grant to fund this project potentially, GM (Tom) Trott and I were so excited to see it come to life in our great mountain community.”

Sonora, CA– A residential structure fire involving a building started on Lyons Street at Hope Lane. The fire was located in the attic of the house. No people were occupying the building at the time of the fire but firefighters did safely remove one dog from the residence. The cause of the fire is unknown and is being investigated. The fire did cause a road closure in this location.

San Andreas, CA – Cal Fire is asking the public not to report smoke and helicopter activity over New Hogan Reservoir as it is a training exercise. Crews are conducting helicopter aerial ignition operations and hazardous fuels reduction in the vicinity of the New Hogan Vegetation Management Program (VMP) site within the community of Rancho Calaveras in Calaveras County today and Wednesday (May 24). The training exercise will be conducted near Silver Rapids and Hogan Dam roads, south of Highway 26.

May 26, 2023 - Sonora, California –– Tuolumne County District Attorney Cassandra Jenecke announced today that on May 25, 2023, 51-year-old former Jamestown resident Steven Matthew Berrigan was sentenced to 9 year 4 months plus 55 years to life in State Prison. This the maximum term that he was facing. He will first complete the determinate term of 9 year 4 months in state prison before he begins the 55 years to life indeterminate term.

Sonora, CA – A Modesto man was handcuffed after he was found with large quantities of fentanyl, meth, cocaine, and a loaded firearm. A caller recently reported to the Sonora Police dispatch that a man was asleep behind the wheel of an SUV on McCormick Drive in the area of the Elks Lodge and Shaws Flat Road west of Highway 49 in Sonora. A responding Sonora Police Sgt. Located the vehicle and approached the driver, identified as 38-year-old Joshua Caudill.

Wallace, CA – Two family pets had to be rescued from a house fire in the Wallace area of Calaveras County on Tuesday afternoon. Responding to the scene located in the 7800 block of Highway 12 near Sawmill Street and Camanche Reservoir were crews from Calaveras Consolidated, Clements, CalFire, and San Andreas Fire. Once on scene, they found “heavy fire conditions” in the home, with the flames spreading to nearby vegetation. Luckily, firefighters were able to rescue two dogs from the residence and return them to the family. No further details on the pooches were available.

“On May 12th, 2023, Shelby Lynn Bernice Craig was located in the State of Idaho. She is currently safe and in the custody of child protective services in Kootenai County, Idaho. Shelby, who voluntarily ran away from home on May 5th, 2023, was picked up by a male individual and...

Sonora, CA — The Sonora Police Department is inviting community members to enroll in a program that teaches proactive strategies to use during violent incidents, like if there is an active shooter. The PD is bringing an ALICE Instructor Certification training course to Sonora High School on August 10-11....

SONORA, Calif. — A 39-year-old from Angels Camp died Saturday, days after being hit by an alleged DUI driver in Sonora. According to the California Highway Patrol, the 39-year-old was driving a 2019 Kia Optima west on Highway 108 near Draper Mine Road when they slowed down to turn onto a private driveway Thursday afternoon.

MURPHYS, Calif. — Deputies said there are no signs of foul play after a body was found in Murphys just after noon on Monday. The Calaveras County Sheriff's Office responded to a report of an unresponsive person on the side of Avery Sheep Ranch Road near Black Quartz Road in Murphys.

Sonora, CA– Kalene Chantel McMillan, a resident of Tuolumne City, California, was sentenced to 12 years in state prison for a series of thefts from her mother, Danielle Kissinger, that drained Ms. Kissinger’s entire retirement account. The sentencing was announced by Tuolumne County District Attorney Cassandra Jenecke on May 12, 2023.

STOCKTON, Calif. — Two people were identified in a deadly crash in Stockton along Highway 26, the San Joaquin County Coroner's Office said Monday. The Valley Springs couple was identified as 68-year-old Donna Nava and 71-year-old Benino Nava. The crash happened on Highway 26 and Alpine Road just before...