CRIME & SAFETY

Tuolumne County, CA – The search continued this afternoon for a missing Galt woman who was swept downstream on the Clavey River on Monday in Tuolumne County. This is the second day of the search, as Tuesday members of the Tuolumne County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue and a CHP helicopter scoured the area, but did not get into the water due to its strong current being fueled by snowmelt from the mountains. Sheriff’s spokesperson Ashley Boujikian tells Clarke Broadcasting that they used a helicopter again today to comb the river near God’s Bath. Boujikian added that they did not search on the ground as “accessibility by foot is extremely limited due to the high water.” The aircrew was unable to find any sign of the 22-year-old woman.

It involved two vehicles.

Jamestown, CA – The CHP has released some new details about a fatal crash that occurred on Sunday just after 5 pm on Highway 108/49 at the roundabout near the Chicken Ranch Rancheria resort construction. A 40-year-old unidentified Modesto man was driving a 2009 GMC Yukon westbound at a...

Update at 4:58 p.m.: The CHP has provided additional information regarding this traffic incident. According to reports, the driver was allegedly trying to leave the crash site but was apprehended within five minutes, walking north of the scene. No injuries were reported in the collision; however, three utility poles suffered damage, leading to a three-hour disruption of traffic. Upon conducting a records check, it was discovered that the driver, identified as Daniel Douglas Broady from Groveland, had an active felony warrant with no bail for his arrest. Consequently, he was taken into custody and subsequently booked into the Tuolumne County Jail on the warrant charges, in addition to being cited for drug possession.

Sonora, CA– Significant headway has been made by fire managers in tackling the Strawberry Prescribed Fire, with an estimated 500 acres already burned as of May 30. Drivers traveling along Highway 108 should be prepared to encounter fire and smoke along the roadside, as well as fire vehicles, starting from Wednesday, June 1, and continuing through June 9.

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.

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, Calif. — The third and only outstanding suspect wanted in connection with a March homicide in Tuolumne County is now in custody. The Tuolumne County Sheriff's Office says a community tip about a possible sighting of Sabrina Starkweather led to her arrest in Stockton. She was then taken...

COLUMBIA -- Authorities have arrested a woman in connection with the March homicide of a Tuolumne County man.On Thursday afternoon, Tuolumne County Sheriff's Office detectives along with Stockton police officers took  28-year-old Sabrina Starkweather into custody in the Stockton area after having received a tip from a member of the public, according to a statement from the sheriff's office. On March 15, the body of 63-year-old Ben Lindsey was found on the ground at his Columbia. Detectives later determined that Lindsey was killed by his neighbor and tenant 63-year-old Jon Starkweather. Starkweather's daughter, Sabrina, and her boyfriend, 22-year-old Kasual McGuire-Meder were also staying with him and were also implicated in Lindsey's death.Two days later, detectives found McGuire-Meder at the Washoe County Jail where he was being held on unrelated charges. He was subsequently booked on charges of murder, conspiracy to commit a crime, robbery, and taking a vehicle without the owner's consent.Jon Starkweather was arrested the same day near his residence in Columbia. He was taken to the Dambacher Detention Center in Sonora and booked on charges of murder, conspiracy to commit a crime, and robbery. Columbia is located approximately 92 miles southeast of Sacramento in Gold Country.

Crews with Truckee Meadows Fire & Rescue say they tendered first aid to a hummingbird that was knocked down by a thunderstorm. Crews at Station 42 in Cold Springs assisted the injured hummingbird by providing mixed sugar water and administered it through a syringe. The team then placed the hummingbird...

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.

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.

COLUMBIA -- Authorities say they are still seeking one suspect in connection to the March death of a Tuolumne County man.According to the Tuolumne County Sheriff's Office, the body of 63-year-old Ben Lindsey was found on the ground at his Columbia home back on March 15. The coroner's office later found Lindsey died of blunt-force trauma. Witnesses said Lindsey's Jeep had been missing for a few days. Suspecting his death was a homicide, sheriff's detectives processed the scene and pursued available leads. During the course of their investigation, they learned that Lindsey's neighbor and tenant, 63-year-old Jon Starkweather, had recently...

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.”

Update at 6:20 p.m.: The southbound lane of Highway 49 has reopened to traffic after two pick-ups collided near Tuttletown School Road in the Tuttletown area of Tuolumne County with traffic getting backed up during the Friday evening commute. CHP officers are directing traffic and they hope to have all the wreckage cleared within the hour. Further details including injuries can be viewed below.

A close relative of the man recently identified as the infamous Zodiac Killer exclusively told RadarOnline.com that she “100 percent” believes he committed the murders.In a striking development to come just days after Air Force veteran Gary F. Poste was identified as the Zodiac Killer by a former FBI agent, the alleged killer’s family spoke out to claim that Poste was “entirely capable” of committing the cryptic crimes.Poste’s family also revealed that Poste was a “twisted,” “sadistic,” and “very secretive” person before his death in 2018 at the age of 80.Poste’s former daughter-in-law, who asked only to be identified as...

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.

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.

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....