News Briefs

Published online on Monday, Apr. 21, 2008

Police

Burglary suspect arrested

Fresno police arrested a suspect Sunday in a series of recent home and vehicle burglaries after receiving a call that stolen gift cards were being used at a Shaw Avenue restaurant.

Robert Tesnear, 39, of Fresno was arrested near the Red Lobster at Sixth Street and Shaw Avenue, police said. In his car officers found two handguns, electronics and other property. In addition, the vehicle he was driving had been reported embezzled, police said.

Tesnear was booked into Fresno County Jail on suspicion of receiving stolen property, embezzlement and various weapons and driving-related charges.

Man arrested in shooting

Fresno County sheriff's deputies arrested Sambatt Sao, 22, of Fresno on suspicion of firing into a house during a Cambodian New Year party Sunday.

Deputies went to a house on the 3200 block of East North Avenue after shots were fired about 6:30 p.m. Two suspects came to the party, got into a fight with others there and one pulled out a handgun and started firing, said Chris Curtice, sheriff's spokesman. No one was injured. People at the scene identified Sao as the person who fired the gun.

Sao was arrested later at his apartment on the 4800 block of East Fillmore Avenue.

Help sought in sex case

The Fresno County Sheriff's Department is asking for the public's help in locating Ramiro Velasquez, 46, of Firebaugh, wanted on suspicion of sexual assault.

A 21-year-old Firebaugh woman called deputies about 4:30 a.m. Friday after she was awakened by a man assaulting her in her bed. The woman yelled and the man ran from the house, said Chris Curtice, sheriff's spokesman.

Velasquez is described as Hispanic, 5-foot-4, 140 pounds. He has wavy black hair, brown eyes, a mustache and a goatee. He was last seen wearing jeans and a blue sweat shirt.

Anyone with information about Velasquez is asked to contact the Sheriff's Department at (559) 488-3111 or Crime Stoppers at (559) 498-7867.

Police set license sting

Clovis police Monday began a sting to catch people with suspended driver's licenses who drive away from the Fresno County courtroom near downtown Clovis.

Officers were stationed inside and outside the courtroom where hearings on seven suspended license cases were held Monday morning.

One defendant who said in court he did not have a valid license drove away after the hearing. A Clovis officer stopped the man and cited him.

Man dies of crash injuries

A third victim has died of injuries suffered in a traffic collision Saturday in Clovis.

David Wells, 48, of Tollhouse, died Sunday, the Fresno County Coroner's Office reported. Two others died at the scene Saturday: William Rowland, 58, and Keri Wells, 50, both of Tollhouse

A fourth victim, a 47-year-old Tollhouse woman, was treated and released.

The crash happened shortly after 6 p.m. on Shepherd Avenue between Minnewawa and Peach avenues, Clovis police said. Kelly Mulligan, 20, of Fresno was traveling east on Shepherd in a sport utility vehicle when she swerved to avoid an object, crossed into westbound traffic and hit a Saturn carrying the driver, Rowland, and passengers Keri Wells, David Wells and the 47-year-old woman. Mulligan was treated and released.

Drivers blamed in crash

A speeding Camaro broadsided a Toyota Tundra that was turning left, knocking the Toyota into a Clovis restaurant Monday, Clovis police reported.

The black Chevrolet Camaro was southbound on Clovis Avenue about 10:30 a.m. when it hit the Toyota Tundra, which was turning left onto Ninth Street, Clovis police said.