Porterville police detective Chris McGuire has returned to duty after being cleared by a department investigation in the shooting death of Joe Edwin Bowles, 25, during a confrontation on Oct. 20.
Chief Chuck McMillan said the investigation found McGuire, a nine-year veteran, acted within department guidelines on the use of deadly force.
Porterville police said Bowles was killed after he ran from officers during an anti-auto theft surveillance. Bowles apparently was tampering with cars, police said, and ran when officers approached him.
Arrests on suspicion of drug activity made
Fresno police arrested two gang members on suspicion of felony narcotics charges Tuesday at a house on the 1800 block of North Palm Avenue, north of McKinley Avenue.
Detectives searched the house and found methamphetamine and marijuana packaged for sale, digital scales, packaging material and ammunition.
Police arrested a 35-year-old man on suspicion of sales of methamphetamine and being an ex-felon in possession of methamphetamine, and a 22-year-old man on suspicion of parole violation. They were booked into the Fresno County Jail.
Anyone with information about drug sales can call the Fresno Police Narcotics Hotline at (559) 454-2600 or CrimeStoppers at (559) 498-STOP.
Fire
Body found in fire had shotgun wound
Visalia police and fire officials investigated the death of a man Tuesday who died of an apparent self-inflicted shotgun wound in a mobile home that was destroyed by fire.
Fire crews called to a mobile home park at 5505 W. Tulare Ave. shortly before 9:30 a.m. had been alerted that a person was inside a smoking double-wide trailer.
The man's body was found inside the home, which was on fire by the time firefighters arrived.
Investigators determined the fire was intentionally set, said fire battalion chief Danny Wristen.
Firefighters put out the fire in about one hour. The interior was destroyed. Damage was estimated at $50,000.
The man's age and name are not being made public until his family is notified, police detective Ozzie Dominguez said.
Courts
Huron mayor wants to hire lawyer
Huron's longtime mayor said Tuesday in Fresno County Superior Court that he wants to hire a lawyer to defend him on felony charges of stealing about $29,000 from a local church.
Ramon Dominguez, 62, faces charges of grand theft and receiving stolen property.
On Tuesday, Dominguez informed Judge Rosendo Peña that he didn't want the Public Defender's Office to represent him.
The judge then granted Dominguez's request to be arraigned on Nov. 24. Dominguez, who was arrested in September, is free on $40,000 bail.
Court records state Dominguez allegedly paid less than half the agreed-upon price for a piece of property, then illegally sold the land to Iglesia Apostolica De La Fe En Christo Jesus.
The church paid Dominguez about $29,000 as a result of the bad deal, records say.
Also ...
Drive to help babies of drought victims
A drive to collect diapers, formula and nonperishable food to help babies of Fresno County families affected by the drought will be held from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at Fig Garden Village at Palm and Shaw avenues.
The drive is sponsored by the Fresno State nursing department and the nonprofit group Philanthropy Inspired by the Needs of our Community.
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