Category Archives: news

Warrant Subject Identified and Arrested

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**UPDATE**

On July 19th at about 2:52 pm, Carlos Juarez III was located and arrested. Juarez was booked on a Department of Parole warrant charging him with violation of parole regarding a previous stolen vehicle charge. Juarez was also charged with obstructing/ resisting Officers. Juarez was transported to the Winters Police Department for booking and to the Yolo County Jail for incarceration. Officers are currently investigating Juarez regarding additional criminal charges. We will provide an update regarding the additional charges pending the result of the investigation.

We would like to thank the community for their patience during this incident and helping us apprehend Juarez.

**ORIGINAL**

On July 19th at about 8:22 am, Officers responding to assist with a traffic hazard; encountered a person with a warrant.

Officers attempted to contact the person, who fled the scene. Yolo County Sheriff Office Deputies were contacted to assist with the search.

At one point, the person cut through the Winters Elementary School campus. The campus was being utilized by the City Of Winters After School Program for Munchkin Summer Camp. The facility was briefly placed on lockdown.

Several residents contacted law enforcement and advised the subject was seen in multiple yards in the residential areas north of Grant Avenue and East of Main Street. After a door to door search, Officers were unable to locate the person and the search was terminated.

The person has been identified as 39-year-old Carlos Juarez III. The Department of Parole has an active warrant for Juarez charging him with violation of parole regarding a previous stolen vehicle charge.

Juarez is currently transient and has family ties to the Winters area. He is described as a Hispanic male 5 feet 8 inches tall, weighing 166 pounds, with close-cut brown hair and brown eyes. Juarez also has multiple tattoos on his arms, back, chest, and neck.

If you see Juarez, please do not approach and call 911.

Previous booking photo of Juarez

Previous booking photo of Juarez

Arrest in stolen vehicle call

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Today’s Date: 04-17-2019
Submitted By: John Miller, Chief of Police
Phone: (530) 795-2261

Title: Arrest in stolen vehicle call

On April 3rd at about 5:00 pm, Officers responded to the parking lot of 121 East Grant Avenue for a report of a stolen vehicle.

Officers reviewed video surveillance. The video showed a male steal a white 1992 Nissan Pick-up License Plate 17389D2; which had been left unlocked with the key inside and flee the area. Officers were able to determine the vehicle left by the suspect had been stolen from the City of Antioch with license plates stolen from the City of Williams. The stolen items were returned to their owners.

Winters Officers reached out to the Williams Police Department, Antioch Police Department and other bay area agencies to advise them of the situation and share the suspect description.

The stolen vehicle was seen in Concord by a Contra Costa Sheriff Office Deputy, who made an enforcement stop. The driver of the vehicle was taken into custody.

The driver was identified as Kenneth Hubbs, 41, of Oakley. Hubbs was arrested by the Contra Costa Sheriff Office on charges of vehicle theft, receipt of stolen property, violation of parole, and possession of burglary tools. Hubbs was booked at the Martinez Detention Facility for incarceration.

Cases like these are a good reminder for residents to lock their vehicles, make sure all valuables (wallets, purses, and electronics) are removed from the vehicle, and make sure keys are accounted for and secured.

Subject arrested on charges of vehicle theft

Subject arrested on charges of vehicle theft

Suspicious Device Investigation

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**UPDATE**

The Yolo County Explosive Ordinance Disposal Unit have evaluated the device and have determined it is inert. They will be collecting the device for disposal.

This unique situation is a reminder to promptly report to local law enforcement any suspicious devices and never attempt to handle or transport potentially dangerous devices.

**ORIGINAL**

The Winters Police Department is currently investigating a suspicious device.

Due to the nature of the investigation our parking area is temporarily closed. There is no immediate danger to the public. Updates will be posted as they become available.

Media inquiries: 530-794-6723

 

Arrest in assault call

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Today’s Date: 04-09-2019

Submitted By: Albert Ramos, Sergeant

Media Inquiries, please phone: (530) 795-2261

 

Title: Arrest in assault call

 

On April 5th at about 12:01 pm, Officers received a call along East Baker Street and Wild Rose Lane regarding an individual who had been assaulted. The victim stated an individual punched, choked, and attempted to stab him with a screwdriver.

 

An Officer recognized the suspect, matching the description given by the victim, from a previous call earlier in the day. The Winters Police Department reached out to neighboring agencies to advise them of the situation and obtained a warrant for the arrest of the suspect.

 

The suspect was identified as Matthew Alexandere Flores, 23, of Vacaville. Flores was arrested by the Solano County Sheriff Office on charges of assault with a deadly weapon, assault causing great bodily injury, retaliation against a witness, and attempted murder. Flores was booked at the Solano County Jail for incarceration.

Patrol Vehicle at Crime Scene

Patrol Vehicle at crime scene of an assault call.

2018 Pink Patch Project Results

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Chelsea Garner, on behalf of the UC Davis Breast Health Center, holds a check for the 2018 Pink Patch Project. 2018 Pink Patch sales totaled $2,227. The proceeds from the sale of the patches went directly to benefit the UC Davis Breast Health Center, which offers imaging, prevention strategies, genetic counseling, risk assessment, and specialty physician patient care to people in our communities.

We would like to give a special shout out to everyone who helped with the project and to our major donors:
Putah Creek Cafe
Winters Tow
Ace Hardware
The Life Center
Gwen Pisani
Realty World
And the members of Winters Rotary

Chelsea Garner, on behalf of the UC Davis Breast Health Center, holds a check for the 2018 Pink Patch Project.

Chelsea Garner, on behalf of the UC Davis Breast Health Center, holds a check for the 2018 Pink Patch Project.

Extortion letter sent to Winters Residence

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Old school scammers are up to some spooky tricks in October.

A resident in Winters has reported receiving an extortion letter in their mail box. Not content with online scams, this blast from the past includes a double sided extortion scam letter. The scammer threatens to expose a horrible secret affair unless the letter reader goes through a 19 step instruction to deposit untraceable bitcoin in the scammers account. If they choose to ignore the letter, the scammer threatens to expose their secret to the world. The letter itself has no return address and, in the example turned into the department, was postmarked in Nashville Tennessee. If you are among the recipients of this letter, your identity does not appear to be compromised. Information in the letter sticks to public records (name, address, and city) similar to White Pages entries. The language of the letter also seems to be from some kind of scammer template, only the names and amount of money change.

This type of scam has been widely reported on, additional articles and example letters can be found by using the search terms “extortion letters bitcoin.” If you are a recipient of a letter, please report the incident directly to the US Postal Inspectors at the following link https://postalinspectors.uspis.gov/contactUs/filecomplaint.aspx

Extortion letter brought to the Police Department

Extortion letter brought to the Police Department

Suspect in Human Trafficking Case Sentenced

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Press Release

Today’s Date: September 7, 2018
Submitted By: Det. David Gonzalez
Phone: (530) 795-2261

Title: Suspect in Human Trafficking Case Sentenced

On September 4, 2018, Jeremiah Bessolo-Marsh was sentenced in Yolo County Superior Court for multiple felony charges.

Bessolo-Marsh had been arrested by the Winters Police Department on May 4, 2018 after a seven month long human trafficking investigation involving a minor. He was charged with numerous felonies including: human trafficking of a minor for commercial sex; distribution of child pornography; unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor; oral copulation with a minor; furnishing controlled substances to a minor; and dissuading a witness. Bessolo- Marsh was also charged with two misdemeanor violations contributing to the delinquency of a minor and violating a court order.
According to Yolo County Deputy District Attorney Rachel Raymond, Bessolo-Marsh pled guilty to the following felony charges: furnishing controlled substances to a minor, unlawful sex with a minor, and dissuading a victim. In exchange, the other charges were dismissed.

Bessolo-Marsh was sentenced to a suspended sentence of 8 years 8 months in state prison and placed on 5 years’ formal probation. As terms of his probation, Bessolo-Marsh will complete drug and alcohol treatment, register as a sex offender for at least 10 years and will have no contact with the victim.

The Winters Police Department would like to extend our thanks to the Yolo County District Attorney’s Office, in particular their High Tech Crime Unit and Human Trafficking Units, the Yolo County Multi Discipline Interview Center, the Yolo County Child Welfare Services, and the Hercules Police Department for their assistance regarding this case.

Investigators Ask For Public’s Help in Missing Person Cold Case

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Today’s Date: August 31, 2018
Submitted By: David Gonzalez,
Media Inquiries, please phone: (530) 795-2261

Title: Investigators Ask For Public’s Help in Missing Person Cold Case

This year marks the 35th anniversary of the disappearance of Evelyn Joyce McDowell and the Winters Police Department is once again reaching out to the public to see if any new information can be developed which could help identify the whereabouts of Evelyn.

On December 12, 1983, Evelyn’s sister reported the 22-year-old missing to the Winters Police Department. Evelyn was last heard from on November 14, 1983 when she made a phone call to her sister and said she was at a bar in the Napa area and someone was “trying to get her.” Soon after, the phone went dead. Several days later, Evelyn’s mother received her daughter’s address book in the mail along with a note saying:

“Joyce, you don’t know me but I found this on the beach in Lucerne and thought you might want it. – Dave”

After receiving the address book, Evelyn’s family began asking her friends and acquaintances for information about Evelyn’s whereabouts. The family was told Evelyn had last been seen with friends in the Napa area and she had exited the car they were in after an argument.

Officers were able to determine the phone number Evelyn had called from was from the Chatter Box Bar in Clear Lake, California near Lucerne, California in Lake County and the Lake County Sheriff’s Office was contacted and initiated a concurrent investigation.

Investigators tracked down the person who had mailed Evelyn’s address book and eliminated him as a person of interest in her disappearance. Investigators also searched the area where Evelyn’s address book was found and recovered a ladies sock tied at both ends which had been filled with sand and rocks.

Winters Police Department and Lake County Sheriff’s Office continued their investigations all through 1984 and sent investigation requests to surrounding jurisdictions. Investigators continued to follow up with leads and possible sightings from 1985 through 1988. Winters Police Department continued to look into Evelyn’s case and examining unidentified person reports to see if there was a match and the Lake County Sheriff’s Office identified Tony Aguilar of Lake County as a person of interest and questioned him extensively. However, Aguilar died in 2002.

With advances in DNA, Investigators contacted Evelyn’s brother, who had been stationed in Germany at the time of Evelyn’s disappearance, and obtained a DNA sample to add to her profile in the nationwide Department of Justice’s Missing or Unidentified Persons System. Unfortunately, none of the information gathered to date has led to Evelyn’s whereabouts and the case remains open.

At the time of her disappearance, Evelyn was described as follows:

Name: McDowell, Evelyn Joyce
Age: 22 years
Gender: Female
Race/Ethnicity: White
Height: 5’5″
Weight: 115 lbs.
Hair: Brown
Eyes: Brown
Clothing: Blue denim jeans, blue jacket, dark oxford shoes
Scars/Marks: Tattoo of a blue heart on her left shoulder, scar on left knee, scar on left forearm

Anyone with information regarding Evelyn Joyce McDowell is urged to call Winters Police Department Detective David Gonzalez at (530) 794-6721. Anonymous tips may be submitted through email at tips.winters@winterspolice.org or by contacting our dispatch center at 530-795- 4561.

Photo of Evelyn McDowell taken in April of 1983

 

Winters Police Department to Partner with Kaiser Permanente in “Stop The Bleed” Class

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Press Release

Today’s Date: September 1, 2018
Submitted By: John P. Miller, Chief of Police
Phone: (530) 795-2261

Title: Winters Police Department to Partner with Kaiser Permanente in “Stop The Bleed” Class

The Winters Police Department is pleased to announce they will be partnering with Kaiser Permanente, Vacaville, to host a “Stop The Bleed” class on Sunday October 7, 2018 at 10:00 am in the Winters Public Safety Facility Training Room

Uncontrolled bleeding from traumatic injuries can occur during natural disasters as well as from common everyday accidents. Up to 20% of trauma deaths could be prevented each year with effective bleeding control measures and research has shown that bystanders with little or no medical training can effectively save lives.

The American College of Surgeons launched the “Stop The Bleed” campaign as a special national initiative designed to provide bystanders with the knowledge and skills needed to stop life threatening bleeding in traumatically injured victims. Similar to the use of CPR or automated defibrillators, improving public awareness about how to stop severe bleeding can make the difference between life and death for an injured person.

A “Stop The Bleed” class is approximately two hours in length and is divided evenly with classroom instruction using audio visual enhancements and then followed by hands-on practice using simulated wound props, hemostatic gauze, pressure dressings and tourniquets.

No minimum age is required to attend. However, due to the graphic nature of the material a responsible parent or guardian’s permission is strongly recommended prior to attending.

This is a free class and space is limited. To sign up, please visit: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/stop-the-bleed-save-a-life-tickets-48217285198.

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Winters Police Department

702 Main St.

Winters, CA 95694

(530) 795-2261

 

Proactive Enforcement Efforts Starting for Storing Vehicles on Public Streets

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Today’s Date: July 18, 2018

Submitted By: John P. Miller, Chief of Police

Phone: (530) 795-2261

Title: Proactive Enforcement Efforts Starting for Storing Vehicles on Public Streets

In response to numerous complaints received city-wide, the Winters Police Department will begin proactively enforcing Municipal Code 10.16.050, which prohibits leaving unattached trailers on any street or alley for any period of time as well as parking any vehicle or recreational vehicle for more than (72) hour consecutive hours upon any street or alley within the city.

Citing and/or removing vehicles and unattached trailers pursuant to this section has historically been undertaken by the Police Department only in response to specific complaints. Unfortunately, the issues with these vehicles and trailers have increased around town and decreased the quality of life for many residents.

In most cases, the Police Department will issue warnings to vehicles and trailers in violation of the Municipal Code prior to taking enforcement action. Vehicles that are clearly inoperable or have expired registration for more than 6 months may be towed immediately.

A permit can be obtained from the Winters Police Department to temporarily store a recreational vehicles or unattached trailer on the street for up to 5 days at a time. Please see Winters Municipal Code 10.16.270 “Exemptions—Issuance of permits,” the Winters Police Department website at http://www.winterspolice.org/records-services/, or call the Winters Police Department for further information.

 

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Winters Police Department

702 Main St.

Winters, CA 95694

(530) 795-2261