Press Release

Fresno County Sheriff’s homicide detectives have released the names of the two suspects involved in today’s OIS by Clovis PD at Willow & Thomas.

They have been identified as 32 year old Lupe Nieto and 18 year old Martin Espinoza, both of Fresno. (See photos attached.)

Nieto is being charged with assault with a deadly weapon, assault with a deadly weapon on a peace officer, terrorist threats, and evading arrest. Espinoza is being charged with assault with a deadly weapon on a peace officer.

No further information will be released at this time.

The Fresno County Sheriff’s Area 3 substation located at 1055 S. Golden State in Selma, and the Area 4 substation located at 33155 Auberry Road in the town of Auberry will both be closed the week of November 23rd to the 29th, and will re-open on Monday, November 30th.

Vehicle releases during the closure week can be obtained from the Area 2 substation located at 5717 E. Shields Ave in the City of Fresno, as well as the Sheriff’s Office main headquarters at 2200 Fresno St. Office hours are from 8:00am to 4:00pm.

The Area 2 phone number is 292-1104. The Sheriff’s Office main headquarters phone number is 488-3939.

Patrol operations and patrol response will continue as usual.

Juan Daniel Rangel, 30 years old

Fresno County Sheriff’s detectives are asking for the public’s help in locating a Del Rey man in connection with a residential burglary that occurred last month. Wanted is 30 year old Juan Daniel Rangel.

The investigation began on the night of October 25th when deputies responded to a burglary call at a residence located in the 6000 block of E Montecito. The victim reported that her home had burglarized some time over the two days prior while she was out of town.

The suspects stole just under $3000.00 worth of property including stereo and computer equipment.

Detectives later identified Rangel as being responsible for the burglary. He is described as being Hispanic, 5-7/ 145 pounds with brown hair and black eyes.

Anyone with information on Rangel’s whereabouts is asked to contact the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office at 488-3111, or CrimeStoppers at 498-STOP(7867).

The Fresno County Sheriff’s Area 3 substation located at 1055 S. Golden State in Selma, and the Area 4 substation located at 33155 Auberry Road in the town of Auberry will both be closed the week of November 23rd to the 29th, and will re-open on Monday, November 30th.

Vehicle releases during the closure week can be obtained from the Area 2 substation located at 5717 E. Shields Ave in the City of Fresno, as well as the Sheriff’s Office main headquarters at 2200 Fresno St. Office hours are from 8:00am to 4:00pm.

The Area 2 phone number is 292-1104. The Sheriff’s Office main headquarters phone number is 488-3939.

Fresno County Sheriff Margaret Mims today announced the arrest of an Orange Cove man, and is asking for the public’s help in locating a second, wanted in connection with a home invasion robbery that occurred this past Friday. Arrested was 27 year old Richard Michael Lopez. Wanted is 33 year old Jason Romero.

During the early morning hours this past Friday, deputies responded to an apartment located in the 500 block of Center St regarding the robbery.

The two victims reported that they had been awakened by Lopez and Romero who had broken into their apartment. While stealing money and other items, the suspects attacked one of the victims with a crowbar and knife. The victim was later treated at Sierra Kings Hospital for non-life threatening stab wounds. After the suspects fled, the victims were able to get to a neighbor’s apartment to call the Sheriff’s Office.

During the investigation, detectives determined that Lopez and Romero were responsible for the robbery and assault, and that both were self admitted street gang members.

While detectives continued to investigate, deputies from the Sheriff’s Community Crime Response Team responded to assist in the search for the suspects. Shortly before 6:00pm, CCRT deputies arrested Lopez during a vehicle stop near the intersection of 6th & “C” St. He was taken into custody without incident and later transported to the Fresno County Jail where he was booked on charges of home invasion robbery.

Romero, a wanted parolee, goes by the street name “Happy”. He is described as being Hispanic, 5-8/ 195 pounds with brown hair (shaved) and black eyes. He is wanted on charges of home invasion robbery, assault with a deadly weapon, and participating in a street gang. He is also being sought on an outstanding arrest warrant in connection with a separate burglary in Tulare County, and parole violations.

Anyone with information on Romero’s whereabouts is asked to contact the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office at 488-3111, or CrimeStoppers at 498-STOP(7867).

A Fresno County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue team has just recovered the body of a 36 year old woman who had fallen in the mountains of eastern Fresno County.

The woman, whose identity is not being released at this time, had apparently been rock climbing with two others on Obelisk Mountain when she fell. The other climbers were able to get to the injured woman and found she had sustained serious injuries. While one of the subjects stayed with the injured woman, the other hiked out to get help.

The Sheriff’s Office received the call last night shortly before 8:00pm and the SAR team was activated a short time later.

The CHP helicopter was able to locate the two subjects earlier this morning at an elevation of about 9700 feet but was unable to land in the area due to the terrain. The SAR team arrived at the location a short time ago, however the victim had already expired.

The next few hours will be dedicated to getting the victim and other climber out of the area, along with the SAR team members.

Fresno County Sheriff Margaret Mims today announced the arrest of three men in connection with a narcotics investigation that has lasted several weeks. Arrested was 28 year old Alfonso Arreguin-Orozco of Fresno, and 20 year old Edwin Arroyo-Zaragoza and 24 year old Jose Luis Delgado-Lara, both of San Jose.

The investigation by the Sheriff’s Narcotics Enforcement Team focused on the sales and distribution of methamphetamine in the Fresno area.

Last night, shortly after 7:00pm, narcotics detectives served a search warrant at a residence located in the 3000 block of Orleans Ave. in the City of Fresno. During the service of the warrant, detectives seized over 5 pounds of methamphetamine. The total street value of the narcotics is just over $150,000.00.

As a result, Arroyo-Zaragoza and Delgado-Lara were charged with possession of methamphetamine for sales and transportation of methamphetamine for sales, and Arreguin-Orozco was charged with possession of methamphetamine for sales. All three suspects were later transported to the Fresno County Jail where they were booked.

The Sheriff’s Office urges members of the community to call the Narcotics Hotline at 1-800-660-1086 and report allegations of illegal narcotics activity. Callers can remain anonymous.

Guadalupe Garcia, 37 years old

Fresno County Sheriff’s detectives are asking for the public’s help in locating a Fresno man wanted in connection with the assault of his estranged girlfriend. Wanted is 37 year old Guadalupe Garcia.

This past Sunday morning, shortly before 5:00am, deputies responded to Garcia’s home located in the 1000 block of S. Leonard regarding a 911 call.

When they arrived, they found the 45 year old female victim who had been held against her will for over two hours, sexually assaulted, and beaten severely.

At some point during the assault, the victim was able to use her cell phone to call a family member and ask for help. The family member then called 911.

Deputies learned that Garcia had been responsible for the victim’s injuries, and had fled out the back door of the house when deputies pulled up. Deputies searched for Garcia but he was never found.

The victim was later transported to Community Regional Medical Center where she was treated and released.

Garcia is described as being Hispanic, 6-4/ 200 pounds with short black colored hair and brown eyes. He is wanted on several sexual assault related charges including rape by force, torture, battery with serious injury, and false imprisonment amongst others.

Anyone with information on Garcia’s whereabouts is asked to contact the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office at 488-3111, or CrimeStoppers at 498-STOP(7867).

Victor Lopez, Jr., 43 years

Fresno County Sheriff Margaret Mims today announced the arrest of an Orange Cove man in connection with a two month long, ongoing identity theft investigation. Arrested was 43 year old Victor Lopez Jr.

This morning, shortly after 8:00am, Fresno County Sheriff’s detectives served search warrants at two locations in the City of Orange Cove. One of the residences, located in the 25000 block of E Sumner Ave, is the home of Lopez Jr. The second residence is located in the 900 block of 8th St. The search was authored with the intent of finding narcotics and evidence of identity theft.

Lopez Jr was arrested after narcotics were discovered in his home.

During the searches, items of property from both residences were seized and will be examined for evidence of identity theft.

Items of property, possibly belonging to the City of Orange Cove, was seized from the home of Lopez Jr pending further investigation to determine whether it is stolen or embezzled. Lopez Jr is a former contract employee for the City of Orange Cove.

The occupant of the 8th St address was not at home at the time the search warrant was served. His identity is not being released at this time.

Lopez was later transported to the Fresno County Jail where he was booked on charges of possessing narcotics.

Further arrests may be made as more evidence regarding the identity theft investigation is discovered. The investigation is ongoing and no further information will be released at this time.

Fresno County Sheriff Margaret Mims today announced the arrest of two Madera men on charges of possessing and transporting methamphetamine for sale. Arrested were 27 year old Gabriel Calderon and 27 year old Antonio Guerrero.

The investigation started this past Friday night when deputies from the Sheriff’s Community Crime Response Team contacted both men after pulling over Calderon’s black Chevy Tahoe on Shaw & Freeway 99 for traffic violations.

During their investigation, deputies seized over an ounce of methamphetamine and over $5200.00 in cash that Guerrero had hidden in his clothing. Deputies also found that Calderon was in possession of another $1700.00 in cash.

Detectives from the Sheriff’s Narcotics Enforcement Team assisted, moving the investigation to Calderon’s home located in the 100 block of Santa Lucia in Madera, and Guerrero’s home located in the 28500 block of Ward, also in Madera. Detectives recovered additional $30,000.00 cash and a handgun.

As a result, both Calderon and Guerrero were arrested and later transported to the Fresno County Jail where they were booked.