Regional

Gov. Gavin Newsom announced the ongoing joint law enforcement operations in Bakersfield, Oakland, and San Bernardino have yielded 6,727 arrests, recovered 4,842 stolen vehicles and confiscated 313 dangerous firearms.

At the direction of Gov. Newsom and through state, county, and city partnerships, the California Highway Patrol began saturating high-crime areas in 2024 to reduce roadway violence and criminal activity.

Crime trends before and after these operations began point to a reduction in crime in Oakland, a decrease in homicides and shootings in Bakersfield, and an increase of arrests and recovered stolen vehicles in San Bernardino.

“I am proud of the CHP Officers, who continue to serve their communities, deter crime, and hold bad actors accountable. Their partnership with local law enforcement has helped to bring a sense of safety to communities across the state and exemplifies California’s commitment to putting the public’s safety first,” said Newsom.

Bakersfield

Following the launch of the CHP partnership in April 2024, the city of Bakersfield experienced notable changes in crime trends.

The joint enforcement operation had led to 3,315 arrests, including 680 felony arrests, 1,174 stolen vehicles recovered, and 87 firearms seized.

The city of Bakersfield announced that 2024 was its safest year since 2021, showing a 57% drop in homicides and 60% fewer shootings compared to previous years.

In over a year of partnership, state and local law enforcement in the area have cracked down on crime, including using their aerial suppression team to assist ground units with apprehending fleeing suspects.

Oakland

By the end of 2024, the city of Oakland had dramatically reduced crime in all categories, with an overall reduction of 34%, compared to the previous year.

Preliminary data from Jan. 1 to Dec. 22, 2024, indicated a 25% decrease in robbery, a nearly 50% drop in burglary, and a 33% decline in motor vehicle theft year-over-year.

Since the joint efforts began in February 2024, officials have made 2,101 arrests, 1,504 of those felonies, recovered 3,578 stolen vehicles, and confiscated 192 illicit firearms.

CHP officers have worked with local area police to keep neighborhoods safe in the past 15 months, including an arrest on multiple felony charges, an arrest with gun and cocaine following a foot chase, and a multi-month investigation to crack down on an organized retail theft ring and the recovery of stolen merchandise valued at more than $779,000.

San Bernardino

Since October 2024, when the collaborative law enforcement effort began in the area, CHP officers have helped clamp down on property theft and violent crime, including gun violence.

Officials have arrested 1,311 individuals, including 249 for felony conduct, seized 90 stolen vehicles and removed 34 illicit firearms.

The CHP’s operation also adds special law enforcement units on the ground and in the air — specifically targeting sideshow activities and stolen vehicles using high-tech camera technology.

This advanced camera network in the region allows law enforcement agencies to identify vehicle attributes beyond license plate numbers, enabling the CHP, local law enforcement, and allied agencies to search for vehicles suspected to be linked to crimes and receive real-time alerts about their movement. Similar efforts have been used to fight crime in the Bay Area.

Through continued partnerships with the San Bernardino Police Department, CHP officers in the past seven months have made significant improvements to community safety, including reducing theft, violent crime, and gun violence in the region.

Recent data suggests violent and property crime went down in key areas in 2024. According to an analysis of Real Time Crime Index data by the Public Policy Institute of California, property crime dropped by 8.5% and violent crime dropped by 4.6% in 2024, compared to 2023. Burglary and larceny also went down by 13.6% and 18.6%, respectively, compared to pre-pandemic levels.

Stronger enforcement, serious penalties and real consequences

In April, Gov. Newsom announced the results from $267 million in grants to 55 communities to hire more police and secure more felony charges against suspects.

Proposed by the governor and distributed by the Board of State and Community Corrections, program participants collected data on arrests, referrals, charges, convictions, and sentencing related to organized retail crime.

From October 2023 to December 2024, 88% of the 373 organized retail theft convictions were felonies.

California has invested $1.1 billion since 2019 to fight crime, help local governments hire more police, and improve public safety.

In 2023, as part of California’s Public Safety Plan, the governor announced the largest-ever investment to combat organized retail crime in state history, an annual 310% increase in proactive operations targeting organized retail crime, and special operations across the state to fight crime and improve public safety.

NORTH COAST, Calif. — The Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office has identified a man who authorities believe was murdered earlier this month.

A report from Capt. Quincy Cromer said the man, whose body was found in the Hulls Valley Road area near Covelo early on the morning of May 15, has been identified as Jorge M. Zavala Estrella, 30, from Vallecito, Calif.

Cromer said an autopsy was conducted on May 17, with the forensic pathologist providing a preliminary cause of death, concluding that Zavala Estrella had died of multiple gunshot wounds.

“The official cause and manner of death will not be finalized until all pathology reports and tests have been completed,” Cromer said.

When deputies located Zavala Estrella’s body, they found multiple firearms and expended cartridge casings nearby. They also followed a blood trail a quarter of a mile where they found a large marijuana grow with hoop houses and several camp trailers.

During the course of the investigation, deputies located two others with gunshot wounds, one at the emergency room in the hospital in Ukiah and another man on Hulls Valley Road who needed emergency care. Both are believed to have been injured during the same shooting incident in which Zavala Estrella was killed.

During this investigation, deputies uncovered evidence of illegal marijuana cultivation and sales under the control of a drug trafficking organization, Cromer said.

This incident is continuing to be investigated as a homicide and anyone with information is requested to contact the Mendocino County Sheriff's Office Dispatch Center at 707-463-4086 (option 1). Information can also be provided anonymously by calling the non-emergency tip-line at 707-234-2100.

NORTH COAST, Calif. — The Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office said it is investigating a fatal shooting in Covelo last week.

Capt. Quincy Cromer said that just after 9 p.m. Wednesday, May 14, deputies were dispatched to a 911 hangup in the area north of Covelo, CA.

The 911 caller was an unidentified male who advised he needed help for a friend and later disconnected. Utilizing the systems and technology from the Sheriff’s Office Communications Center, the dispatcher was able to trace the 911 call to the 82000 block of Mina Road in Covelo, Cromer said.

Sheriff’s deputies responded to the area of the 911 hang-up near Covelo and overheard radio traffic just before 11 p.m. of a deputy in Ukiah being dispatched to the Adventist Health Ukiah Valley Emergency Room for an adult male subject with possible gunshot wounds.

Cromer said deputies extensively checked the area of Mina Road for the 911 hang-up. While on Mina Road, deputies were contacted by subjects in a vehicle who reported an unresponsive male was located a short distance away on Hulls Valley Road.

Deputies responded to the area of Hulls Valley Road, approximately 1 mile from the intersection with Mina Road, and located an unresponsive adult male on the roadway near 2 vehicles that were unoccupied along the road. This area was determined to be the 23000 block of Hulls Valley Road, Cromer said.

Deputies checked the unresponsive adult male and determined he was deceased from apparent gunshot wounds at 12:42 a.m. Thursday, May 15, according to Cromer’s report.

Cromer said there were multiple firearms located in the vicinity of the decedent and expended cartridge casings on the ground. There was also blood evidence located along the ground and Deputies followed the blood trail for approximately ¼ mile where they located a large marijuana grow with hoop houses and several camp trailers.

As deputies continued to investigate the apparent homicide in Covelo, Cromer said other deputies responded to the emergency room in Ukiah to further investigate the subject with gunshot wounds who was receiving medical treatment.

Deputies interviewed the adult male with gunshot wounds and the subject who transported him to the hospital. Based on these interviews, Cromer said deputies determined this investigation was related to the shooting incident and deceased subject located by sheriff’s office personnel on Hulls Valley Road.

Due to the subject’s significant injuries, the adult male with gunshot wounds at the Adventist Health Ukiah Valley Emergency Room was transported to an out-of-county hospital for further medical treatment, Cromer reported.

Sheriff’s office detectives were contacted and briefed on both incidents as they were determined to be related. Cromer said detectives prepared a search warrant for the marijuana grow property on Hulls Valley Road and the shooting scene along Hulls Valley Road.

Additional sheriff’s office personnel and investigators with the Mendocino County District Attorney’s Office were requested to respond to Covelo and assist with the investigation, Cromer said.

Deputies canvassed the area of Mina Road and Hulls Valley Road in an attempt to find possible witnesses or other involved subjects. At 8:15 a.m. Thursday, May 15, a deputy located another adult male subject on Hulls Valley Road who was approximately 4 miles from the intersection with Mina Road, according to Cromer.

Cromer said the adult male had numerous apparent gunshot wounds and required emergency medical treatment. An air ambulance was requested, and the adult male was airlifted to a different out-of-county hospital for emergency medical treatment. Basic statements from the subject indicated he suffered gunshot wounds during the same shooting incident on Hulls Valley Road.

The two subjects with gunshot wounds who were transported to different out-of-county hospitals are in stable condition and have been interviewed regarding this ongoing homicide investigation, Cromer reported.

Cromer said attempts are being made to positively identify the adult male found dead on Hulls Valley Road. Once the man has been identified and his legal next-of-kin has been notified of his death, additional information can be released regarding his identity.

A post-mortem examination is being scheduled for the dead man and the official cause and manner of death will not be released until the pathologist completes their examination and reports, Cromer said.

During this investigation, Cromer said deputies uncovered evidence which is indicative of illegal marijuana cultivation and sales under the control of a drug trafficking organization.

Additional information related to the suspected drug trafficking organization will not be released to maintain the integrity of this investigation, Cromer said.

Anyone with information related to this investigation is requested to contact the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office Communications Center at 707-463-4086 (option 1). Information can also be provided anonymously by calling the non-emergency tip-line at 707-234-2100.

Kay Medin. Courtesy photo.

HUMBOLDT COUNTY, Calif. — Authorities in Humboldt County said this week that DNA analysis has led to the identification of skeletal remains from a 38-year-old cold case.

The remains belong to Kay Josephine Medin, whose husband, Nickolas Medin, reported her missing on Aug. 3, 1987, to the Trinity County Sheriff's Office.

Nickolas Medin reported he had left on a business trip and when he returned home his wife was gone.

The Medin property was searched, and friends and family were contacted. Her doctor was contacted, who reported she had no serious medical issues.

Kay Medin was employed as a teacher at the Hyampom School. Her boss was contacted and reported she had been in good spirits. Her purse and personal property were found at the residence.

The Trinity County Sheriff’s Office listed her disappearance as suspicious.

On November 25, 1987, the Humboldt County Sheriff's Office received a package in the US mail. The package contained skeletal remains and an anonymous letter. The letter gave directions leading to more human remains at a location near Ammon Ridge Road in Eastern Humboldt County.

Humboldt County Sheriff’s detectives responded to the location given in the letter and discovered additional human remains. These remains were later identified as Kay Medin using dental records.

A death certificate was issued for Kay Medin in 1988, and she remained listed as a missing person as there was not a complete body recovery.

On Feb. 16, 1993, the Fortuna Police Department contacted the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office to report that a man had found a partial human skull on the beach near Trinidad Head. The man later turned the remains into the Fortuna Police Department.

A DNA sample was obtained from the skull and entered into both the California Missing Person DNA Database and the National Unidentified Person DNA index. The DNA profile was searched against profiles from both missing persons and other human remains in the Combined DNA Index System. No match was ever made.

In 2024, the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office received Community Project Funding from Congressman Jared Huffman’s Office. The funding was to be used to clear up a backlog of unidentified human remains cases. The sheriff’s office partnered with private lab Othram Inc.

A DNA extract from the remains was sent to Othram. Othram scientists used Forensic-Grade Genome Sequencing to build a comprehensive DNA profile for the unknown remains. Once the profile was built, Othram’s in-house genealogy team used forensic genetic genealogy to produce investigative leads.

In September 2024, the sheriff’s office received a report from Othram indicating the skull may be that of Kay Medin.

The report included genetic relatives, including a possible daughter. Investigators were able to locate the daughter and obtained a DNA sample from her. The California Department of Justice later compared the two DNA samples and confirmed the skull belonged to Kay Medin. Nickolas Medin died in August 2018.

The Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office thanked Othram, Congressman Jared Huffman and the California Department of Justice DNA lab for assisting in solving this case.

The sheriff’s office is continuing to work with Othram on several other unidentified remains investigations utilizing the latest DNA technology. This case is still open and considered a cold homicide.

If you have any information regarding this case, please contact Investigator Mike Fridley at 707-441-3024.

NORTH COAST, Calif. — Caltrans is asking for the public’s assistance following a series of illegal hazardous material dumpings along U.S. 101 in Mendocino County.

On Monday, with the assistance of the California Highway Patrol, the Mendocino County Environmental Health Department, and Redwood Empire Hazmat Incident Response, 19 barrels containing hazardous waste were removed from an embankment south of Leggett near the Empire Rest Area.

The cost of the cleanup and disposal of the materials is estimated at $30,000.

“Luckily, we've avoided any major environmental hazards thus far,” said Caltrans District 1 Hazardous Materials Manager Danny Figueiredo. “At the cleanup site on Monday, the materials were only 10 feet away from dropping over a cliff with a drop of about 50 to 75 feet right into the creek. The creek has fresh running water, with fish, and that would have been disastrous.”

The string of incidents began in November with illegal dumping occurring twice in Hopland, again last month in Laytonville near the Shamrock Ranch, and most recently south of Leggett.

“The evidence collected indicates that the materials found at all four sites originated from the Bay Area, possibly from an old construction or roof insulation company in Livermore,” Figueiredo said.

He emphasized that the expense of each cleanup is substantial.

If anyone has information or has seen any suspicious activity regarding the dumping of barrels of commercial hazardous waste along U.S. 101 in Mendocino County, please contact the CHP at 707-932-6100.



GLENN COUNTY, Calif. – Caltrans is alerting motorists of construction activities on a safety improvement project at the intersection of State Route 32 and County Road P in Orland.

The project includes the installation of a new traffic signal to improve safety and reduce the number of collisions at this location.

This week marks the start of onsite work, with crews performing potholing operations to locate underground utilities. Current work is taking place within the shoulder areas and is not expected to significantly impact traffic flow.

This $6.1 million safety project will enhance motorist safety at the intersection and reduce the frequency of collisions.

Motorists are advised to slow down, watch for construction crews and equipment traveling in and out of the work zone, and expect intermittent delays.

Caltrans District 3 is responsible for maintaining and operating 4,385 lane miles in 11 Sacramento Valley and Northern Sierra counties.

Caltrans reminds motorists to “Be Work Zone Alert” and slow in construction zones for the safety of travelers and crews performing these improvements.

The department will issue updates on X @CaltransDist3 and on Facebook at CaltransDistrict3. For real-time traffic information, click on Caltrans’ QuickMap or download the QuickMap app from the App Store or Google Play.

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