Law & Order
ATHLETE'S LAWSUIT DISMISSED: Stanislaus County Superior Court has dismissed a lawsuit filed by a Central Catholic High School star athlete who claimed he was roughed up by police outside a Modesto dance club in September 2006. Louis Bland III filed the lawsuit in October but did not serve the city with the complaint, the city attorney's office said Thursday. The case was dismissed at a hearing last week, the court said. Bland had sought $1 million to compensate him for medical costs his family incurred, violation of his civil rights and emotional trauma, according to the lawsuit. He was caught up Sept. 3, 2006, in a melee outside a 10th Street club. Police were overwhelmed by a large crowd that night, and Bland claimed he was struck by officers. Medical records show he was treated at Doctors Medical Center for a laceration that night. Bland graduated from Central Catholic last month.
QUIK STOP ROBBED: Police are looking for a man who robbed a Turlock convenience store Wednesday morning. The man entered the Quik Stop market at 2406 West Monte Vista Ave. just after 9:30 a.m., police said. He was armed with a black handgun, said Lt. Ron Reid of the Turlock Police Department. He demanded money, stole cash from the register, then fled. In still images from surveillance footage taken in the Quik Stop, the shape of the man's gun is visible in the pocket of his gray sweat shirt, said Detective Tony Silva. The man entered the store on foot, Silva said. After the robbery, he walked to a nearby residential area and drove away or went into a home. Police ask anyone with information about the robbery to call Silva at 668-5550, ext. 6829, or CrimeStoppers at 521-4636. Callers to CrimeStoppers can remain anonymous and are eligible for a cash reward.
PAROLEE ARRESTED: Turlock police arrested a parolee who they say took a friend's rent money, hid in an attic, then led them on a chase before being taken into custody several blocks away. Just before 9 a.m. Wednesday, the victim reported to police that a friend had taken her rent money. Officers arrived and found Angel Ramirez, 28, hiding in the attic, Lt. Ron Reid said. As officers tried to arrest him, Reid said, he kicked open the attic access and jumped into the apartment below. Ramirez fled over neighboring fences as officers chased him. They used a police dog to take him into custody, Reid said. Ramirez was arrested on suspicion of robbery, resisting arrest and a parole violation. His bail has been set at $75,000. According to police, another friend of Ramirez's, Teofilo Ramos, 24, hid in the bathroom when officers arrived. Ramos is being held on $5,000 bail on suspicion of conspiracy, being an accessory to a felony and violating his parole. Both are scheduled to appear in Stanislaus County Superior Court today. They are being held at Stanislaus County Jail on no-bail parole holds.
CAR CRASHES INTO COMPLEX: Ceres police arrested two men early Thursday after, authorities say, they crashed into an apartment complex in a stolen car, then fled. Just before 2:30 a.m., officers received a report that a white 1992 Honda Accord had run into Wedgewood Apartments, 1757 Richland Ave., said Sgt. Allen McKay of the Ceres police. The car had been reported stolen from Turlock. The men who were in the car fled south on Herndon Avenue in another car, a 1997 four-door Chrysler Cirrus, McKay said. An officer followed the Cirrus when it turned right onto East Whitmore Avenue, then stopped it at Railroad Avenue. The officer arrested Joshua Don Krueger, 18, on suspicion of possessing a stolen vehicle, hit-and-run driving, drunken driving and driving on a suspended license. Officers said they believe he was driving the Honda when it crashed. He is being held on $42,000 bail. Police said Rey Anthony Martinez, 25, was a passenger in the Honda. He was arrested on suspicion of possessing stolen property and is being held on $10,000 bail. The men, both of Turlock, are being held at Stanislaus County Jail. McKay did not know how much damage was done to the apartment building. Officers cited Ashley Krueger, 20, also of Turlock, on suspicion of driving without a license, having no insurance and being a minor in possession of alcohol. Officers said Krueger drove the men from the crash in the Cirrus, McKay said.
VIGIL FOR UNSOLVED SLAYING: Modesto resident Ardis Olson Lionudakis and at least three other family members will attend a vigil Saturday in San Mateo that will honor the victims in a slaying case that has remained unsolved since February 1979. Lionudakis' husband, Michael Olson, was the store manager at a Payless; their daughter, Amy, was a year old when he died. He and teenage employees Billy Baumgartner and Tracy Anderson were shot to death by a killer whom police believe hid in the store and waited for it to close. Lionudakis eventually moved to Modesto and remarried. Last year, Gov. Schwarzenegger authorized a $50,000 reward for information leading to the capture and conviction of the killer. Bee columnist Jeff Jardine detailed the case in an October 2007 column. The vigil will be at the Rite Aid (formerly Payless) store at 666 Concar Drive in San Mateo, beginning at 2 p.m. The event will include speakers from the San Mateo Police Department and the Carole Sund-Carrington Memorial Reward Foundation.
FIRE SLOWS TRAFFIC: A 25-acre grass fire Wednesday along Highway 99 slowed traffic and caused minor injuries when two vehicles collided because of smoke, authorities said. The fire was reported to dispatchers at 4:57 p.m. The fire apparently started on the southbound ramp at Fulkerth Road and Highway 99. There was no damage other than burned grass and brush, authorities said. About 22 firefighters responded and were on scene for about two hours. The fire ran fast along the freeway because of high winds, said Battalion Chief Gary Lunsford of the Turlock Fire Department.
This story was originally published June 6, 2008 at 2:44 AM with the headline "Law & Order."