PORTERVILLE, CA (KMJ) – A missing teenage girl from Porterville is found in Las Vegas with a man from Florida, who’s now facing serious charges.

On August 18, 2023, a 17-year-old girl’s parents contacted Porterville Police, telling officers that she’d run away.

Police say the girl met a 20-year-old from Florida on social media.

They were able to track the suspect to the Fresno and Clovis areas but were unable to find them.

The Porterville Police Department would like to remind families that sex traffickers are constantly seeking out victims through social media. It is important that parents have conversations with their children about these types of predators to prevent this from happening to them.

Detectives learned she boarded a flight at the Fresno International Airport and flew out of Fresno, headed to Las Vegas, Nevada, across state lines.

Porterville detectives working with the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department tracked her down to a hotel in Las Vegas

Detectives said 20-year-old Amari Keishawn Brown was arrested, and the teenage girl was returned to her parents.

Brown now faces a slew of felony charges.

Porterville detectives are working with the Tulare County District Attorney’s Office to charge Brown with Sex Trafficking, Sending Harmful Matter to a Minor, Arranging to Meet a Minor for Lewd Acts, Lewd acts with a Minor, Possession of Child Pornography, Sexual Battery, Contributing to the Delinquency of a Minor, and Child Endangerment.

The investigation into this incident is ongoing.

Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the Porterville Police Department at (559) 782-7400.

Listen to the report by KMJ’s Liz Kern.

FRESNO, CA (KMJ) – A proposed ordinance to regulate new laboratories dealing with infectious diseases wins initial approval at Fresno City Council.

Fresno City Councilmembers Garry Bredefeld, Miguel Arias and Nelson Esparza authored the “Infectious Disease Lab Accountability and Transparency Ordinance.”

The proposal comes after the discovery of a Covid-19 lab operating illegally in Reedley in late December, and just recently made public.

The proposed ordinance would have criminal penalties for violations of operating permits.

Fresno City Council unanimously approved the proposal during Thursday’s council meeting.

The ordinance will be up for final approval on Sept. 14, 2023.

If Fresno City Council passes the ordinance, it will take effect in October.

Listen to the report by KMJ’s Liz Kern.

FRESNO, CA (KMJ) – California Attorney General Rob Bonta announces a new program to target illicit cannabis statewide.

AG Bonta visited Fresno on Tuesday, standing with partners in the endeavor while holding a news conference at Fresno City Hall.

Bonta says the DOJ’s new Cannabis Administrative Prosecutor Program makes the City of Fresno partners with the California Department of Justice to uncover unlicensed, illegal commercial cannabis activities by providing legal support.

“Complex problems require creative and collaborative solutions. This innovative new program allows my office to better support local governments in our collective efforts to tackle illegal cannabis activities, and we are confident that this new cost-effective program will have dramatic and measurable effects.”

-Attorney General Rob Bonta.

Despite the legalization of cannabis in California in 2016 through the voter-approved Adult Use of Marijuana Act, unlicensed cannabis activities remain a significant problem in the state. In fact, illegal operators make up the majority of California cannabis activity.

The city of Fresno, like many communities throughout California, is impacted by the illegal cannabis market — whether it be illegal cultivation, manufacturing, or retail sales.

Bonta signed the agreement on Tuesday, making the City of Fresno the first in the state to participate in the California Department of Justice’s Cannabis Administrative Prosecutor Program (CAPP).

said Fresno City Attorney Andrew Janz said the partnership is aimed at assisting the local legitimate cannabis industry and help grow the Fresno’s tax base.

“It is my hope that this, first-of-a-kind joint venture between the Fresno City Attorney’s and the Office of the Attorney General will be a model for other large cities. For far too long, these underground operations have targeted children and minors without fear of retribution. This inventive new approach will seek to put an end to that.”

“ Fresno City Attorney Andrew Janz

CAPP will provide vital support to local governments who sign on by increasing the scope of illicit cannabis enforcement; providing resources and education to build enforcement programs; and providing cost-effective evidence collection that could lead to large-scale, statewide prosecution of those involved in illegal cannabis activity.

This cooperative effort between DOJ and local jurisdictions leverages the administrative enforcement powers of cities and counties and will supplement the important criminal and civil enforcement efforts being undertaken by the Department of Cannabis Control and the Governor’s Unified Cannabis Enforcement Task Force, which is led by the Department of Cannabis Control and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.

Learn more about the about CAPP by visiting http://oag.ca.gov/Capp.

Listen to the reports by KMJ’s Liz Kern.

TULARE COUNTY, CA (KMJ) — A man with prior arrests in the South Valley is again arrested for a series of thefts in Tulare County.

The Visalia Police Department says 32-year-old Michael Hackett is suspected in more than 45 thefts that began in February 2021.

Visalia Police say Hackett mostly stole video games, and is suspected to be behind a number of thefts at Lowe’s in Visalia.

The stolen inventory estimated to be nearly $10,000.

Hackett was arrested over the weekend at a Target in Tulare, and booked into the Tulare County Jail.

He faces charges for Grand theft, Burglary, and Conspiracy.

Hackett had been previously arrested by Visalia Police back in May of 2018, in connection with a number of mailbox thefts in Visalia.

He was one of three men suspected of using homemade mailbox keys to steal checks, credit cards and personal information from the mail.

FRESNO, CA (KMJ) — Fresno Police arrest an unhoused man for the murder of another homeless man, who died after the alleged assault, over the weekend.

Fresno Police say around 11:00 pm Saturday night they responded to a report that there had been an assault at the Fresno Mission on G Street near San Benito.

Police say they learned that 30-year-old Johnny Hines confronted the 66-year-old victim, Frank Placencia.

Officers say Hines accused the other man of touching his belongings, assaulted him, then fled the scene.

When officers arrived, they found Placencia unresponsive, and suffering from severe trauma to the
head.

Placencia was rushed to Community Medical Center for medical treatment.

Police say he was unable to survive his injuries and was pronounced dead at 5:17 p.m. on Sunday, August 27, 2023.

Fresno Police located and arrested Hines, who was booked into the Fresno County Jail on a murder charge.

Although there’s been an arrest made in this case, detectives ask anyone with information to please contact the Fresno Police Department – Felony Assault Detectives A. Kincaid at 559-621-2072 or A. Estrada at 559-621-2423.

Callers can remain completely anonymous by contacting Crime Stoppers at (559) 498-STOP (7867)

Listen to the report by KMJ’s Liz Kern.

FRESNO, CA (KMJ) – A New Mexico man is arraigned Wednesday, accused of kidnapping members of a migrant family and holding them hostage.

The Fresno County DA’s Office charging 31-year-old Christian Guadalupe Ortiz Coronado of Los Lunas, New Mexico for the kidnapping for ransom of five victims last week in Fresno.

Ortiz Coronado is accused of taking a mother and her two young children hostage.

Police say it took place after he told their family –including two adult males that he wanted more money for bringing them to Fresno from the Mexican border.

When family members were unable to pay the additional funds, Ortiz Coronado left the County of Fresno with the victims, including a 9-year-old child.

Ortiz Coronado only returned with the victims upon promise of payment.

Police tracked him down and arrested him on August 25, 2023, in Fresno,

Ortiz Coronado faces other charges including human trafficking and child abuse.

The Felony Complaint filed in the Superior Court alleges that Christian Guadalupe Ortiz Coronado committed:
• Four (4) Counts of KIDNAPPING FOR RANSOM [Penal Code §209(a)];
• One (1) Count of ATTEMPTED KIDNAPPING FOR RANSOM [Penal Code §664/209(a)]
• One (1) Count of ATTEMPTED KIDNAPPING [Penal Code §664/207(a)];
• Two (2) Counts of CHILD ABUSE [Penal Code §273a(a)].

Ortiz Coronado was arraigned Wednesday at 8:30 a.m. at the Fresno County Superior Court.

If he is convicted of all charges and allegations, Ortiz Coronado faces life in prison with the possibility of parole.

Listen to the report by KMJ’s Liz Kern.

EXETER, CA (KMJ) – Exeter Police respond to a disturbance at a home in that city on Thursday morning that became deadly.

Exeter Police got the call around 7:00 a.m. requesting medical aid after a disturbance.

When officers arrived at the Rancho Exeter Mobile Home Park at 314 North Albert Avenue, they found a 72-year-old man and a 64-year-old woman who had been repeatedly stabbed.

Police located a man there, on the scene, who they believe is the suspect.

35-year-old Gordon Paisley was taken into custody.

Exeter Police say the two victims were taken to Kaweah Delta Medical Center but the 72-year-old man died of his injuries.

The female victim is expected to survive her injuries.

Listen to the report by KMJ’s Liz Kern.

FRESNO, CA (KMJ) – A badge pinning ceremony was held Thursday to honor the 16th Fresno Fire Chief, Billy Alcorn.

Alcorn was appointed to the position last month after serving as interim fire chief for five months.

Alcorn was recruited to Fresno Fire in January of 2021 after serving as the Merced Fire Chief for nearly two years.

With a career of over 15 years, he brings a wealth of experience to his new role including having served as Merced Fire Chief before joining the City of Fresno.

During his time with Fresno Fire, he has led the Fire Prevention and Support Services Division and the Operations Division.

Congratulations Chief!!!

Listen to the report by KMJ’s Liz Kern.

FRESNO, CA (KMJ) – More details coming out on Thursday about a crash at a FAX bus stop on Wednesday that injured 11 students in Fresno.

The Fresno County Sheriff’s Office says Yesenia Renteria, the mother of the 16-year-old driver allegedly behind the wheel, was arrested and had posted bail.

Fresno Police say it all happened around 3:30p.m. Wednesday afternoon outside Roosevelt High School.

Officers say the 16-year-old was speeding in a pick-up truck when he plowed into the bus stop by Cedar and Tulare.

Fresno Mayor Jerry Dyer held a press conference at the location on Wednesday.

Dyer said almost two dozen students were waiting for the bus at the time.

School has just let out, a lot of kids were waiting at the bus stop. Probably fewer kids were out on the street than normally would have been. Had it happened a little bit sooner it could have been much worse.

-Mayor Jerry Dyer

Dyer said 11 teens were taken to three area hospitals with non-life-threatening injuries.

Police say the 16-year-old driver ran from the scene and was picked up in a car by his mother and 14-year-old sister.

Community members followed, providing the police department with updates.

The teen was seen getting into a white colored vehicle occupied by two females.

Undercover officers quickly located the vehicle and followed it until marked patrol units could conduct a traffic stop.

A short time later, officers pulled over the car on Ventura and Orange.

The teen was arrested on two felony charges for Hit and Run and DUI, police said he allegedly had marijuana in his system.

The Fresno County Sheriff’s Office says the boy’s 36-year-old mother, Yesenia Renteria, was charged with felony accessory after the fact.

She was released from jail shortly before 4:00 am on Thursday after posting bond.

Her bail set at $5,000.

Yesenia Renteria is due in court on September 21, 2023.

Police are asking anyone who has cell phone video of the scene to email it to policedept@fresno.gov.

Listen to the report by KMJ’s Liz Kern.

Fresno’s Police Chief Paco Balderrama sent out a statement following the two accidents in the city, after another accident on Thursday involved a mother and her children, who were struck by a car near a Fresno Elementary School.

In the last 24 hours, we have had two significant collisions involving school children being
injured by drivers. These two incidents, although close together in time, share no other
similarities that would have allowed us the opportunity to prevent them from occurring. One involved a teenager driving recklessly in the afternoon after school, while the other involved an elderly driver in the morning before school.The Fresno Police Department is committed to the safety of our children, especially as they are going to or coming from school. Through intelligence-led deployments, we focus our resources in areas where we anticipate collisions occurring. Through planned events such as DUI checkpoints and daily, unplanned proactive policing efforts, we seek to remove impaired drivers off our roads. And through collaborations with stakeholders such as the Fresno Unified School District and CHP, we seek to educate and remind our community members of the importance of safe driving practices. Safety on our roadways, be it by vehicle, bicycle or on foot, is paramount. We should all be able to travel our streets, free from the fear of being involved in a collision. This cannot be accomplished by law enforcement alone, however…it takes the involvement and commitment by our entire community to drive responsible.
-Fresno Police Chief Paco Balderrama

FRESNO, CA (KMJ) – Fresno police arrest a 31-year-old woman for the death of a homeless man, found in a parking lot, last Tuesday morning.

Just before 7:30 Tuesday morning, officers responded to the 4200 block of East Fountain Way.

They found 28-year-old Daniel Payan face down in the parking lot.

Officers say he had been shot in the chest

Payan was pronounced dead at the hospital.

Investigators say surveillance video and witnesses helped them identify J’Tericka Hall as the suspect.

On Friday, November 10th, officers served a search warrant at her home and she was arrested.

Listen to the report by KMJ’s Liz Kern.