Suspects Collide with Vehicle While Attempting to Flee from Scene

***FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE***

Date: Saturday, November 25, 2006
Contact: Officer Zuhlke, Press Information Officer
Subject: Suspects Collide with Vehicle While Attempting to Flee from Scene
Location: 10800 Bloomfield Road

Santa Fe Springs, CA – Two suspects are in custody after colliding with a vehicle in the intersection of Bloomfield Road and Florence Avenue. At 1:40am, a Whittier Police Officer was “flagged down” by patrons in the parking lot of Senior Charlie’s, located on the corner of Los Nietos Rd. and Santa Fe Springs Road. Entering the parking lot, the officer noticed a silver Nissan pickup approaching him at a high rate of speed after hearing what he thought to be a collision. As the vehicle passed the patrol officer he told the driver to stop, but the truck, which was occupied by two male Hispanics, fled the scene at a high rate of speed. Officers would later learn that a shooting had occurred in the parking lot minutes prior to arrival. No shooting victims would be located at the scene.

As the Officer exited the parking lot in his patrol car, he began searching for the suspect vehicle which was last seen at a high rate of speed (southbound) on Bloomfield Rd. As the officer continued his search, he observed (from a great distance) the silver Nissan fleeing at a high rate of speed and running stop signals. He then observed the Nissan run a red light at the intersection of Bloomfield Rd. and Florence Ave., and collide with a small Honda. The Honda was broadsided and the Nissan pickup rolled on its side and came to a rest against a palm tree. Both suspects then climbed out of the pickup and began fleeing on foot. Ultimately, a containment would be established and both suspects taken into custody. Additionally, a handgun would be recovered from inside the vehicle. The driver of the Nissan was booked on felony DUI, hit and run, and suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon. The passenger was also booked for suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon.

The driver of the Honda, who was broadsided, was immediately tended to by officers but remained unconscious during treatment. The 20 year old female, residing in the county area of Whittier, is now in critical condition at a local trauma center.

The Whittier Police Department is asking for the public’s help in locating another vehicle which was believed to be involved in the shooting and traffic collision at Senior Charlie’s. The vehicle was described as a dark blue, 4-door, Honda with tinted windows and major rear-end damage.
Anyone with additional information is urged to contact the Whittier Police Department at (562) 945-8250.

END

Body Discovered in Trunk of Burned Vehicle

Whittier, CA - The Whittier Police Department is seeking the public's help in discovering who was behind the murder of James Anthony Cortez (11/02/71), who's burned body was found in the trunk of a Dodge Sedan. At 7:00 PM on 11/17/06, Whittier Police Officers responded with LACO Fire to the 5700 block of Pioneer Blvd. to find a car engulfed in flames. After extinguishing the fire, firefighters opened the trunk and discovered the 35 year-old body of Cortez. Closer examination of the body revealed two apparent gunshot wounds to the abdomen.

After securing the scene, homicide detectives commenced an investigation that is currently ongoing. While a comprehensive investigation is under way, detectives are asking for the public's help in gathering any information important to the case. Anyone with information is urged to contact the Whittier Police Department at (562) 945-8250.

Man Pinned Between Trailer Pronounced Dead

Santa Fe Springs, CA. - The Whittier Police Department Traffic Division is currently investigating a fatal traffic collision involving a 45 year-old male who was crushed between two semi trailers on Thursday night. After arriving at the "Warner Truck Yard," located at 12820 Imperial Highway, the two man trucking crew began the process of swapping semi trailers. While the veteran driver, a White male from Washington State, was checking the security of the trailer, he prompted his partner, a rookie driver from Kentucky, to release the brakes in order to check the seals. Upon release of the brakes the trailer, which was on an incline, rolled back and crushed the victim between another tractor-trailer. While the Whittier Police Department rushed to the scene at 9:45 PM, the victim (notification pending) was killed instantly. Traffic investigators were then called to the scene to conduct a through investigation.

Fatal Traffic Collision – Husband, Wife, 15-month-old, and Unborn Baby Perish

Santa Fe. Springs, CA. – The Whittier Police Department is seeking the Public’s help in gathering any information that can assist accident investigators in determining what caused a fatal traffic collision on Sunday morning. The traffic collision occurred at 12:30am on November 5, 2006, and would claim the lives of a 32-year-old man (notification pending), Audrey Panganiban-Find (03/04/80), their 15-month-old daughter, and Audrey’s unborn child.

Receiving a call of a vehicle fire, Whittier Police Officers and Santa Fe Springs Fire Department arrived to find a black Chevrolet Impala (2004) fully engulfed in flames. After the fire was extinguished, an investigation began that revealed the car was traveling eastbound on Alondra Blvd. from Carmenita Rd., approaching the 5 Freeway onramp. For an unknown reason, the vehicle veered off the roadway, drove over a median, through two fences, and into a 15-foot deep drainage ditch adjacent the Coyote Creek flood control channel. The vehicle caught on fire upon impact.

The cause of the accident remains to be discovered. As such, traffic investigators are asking the Public for assistance. Anyone with information pertaining to the cause of the accident is urged to contact the Whittier Police Department Traffic Division (Officer Lopez) at (562) 945-8260 or (Officer Jensen) at (562) 945-8285.

Claim of Arson Proved False by Evidence

Whittier, CA. (11/01/06) – An elaborate story of arson appears to have been proven false by burn patterns and evidence located inside a scorched apartment.

At 9:30 PM, the Whittier Police Department received a 911 call from a subject inside apartment #7, at 7316 Milton Avenue, claiming that people were outside his apartment trying to set it on fire. As Whittier dispatchers were talking to the man inside the apartment, who was identified as George Hernandez (35yrs), he claimed “gang members” were trying to kick in the front door to carry out their mission. Hernandez would also tell Whittier dispatchers he heard “glass shatter” and that moments later the apartment was ablaze.

Arriving on scene, multiple officers began trying to locate Hernandez amidst the smoke and flames. Seconds later, Hernandez emerged from a second story window and jumped to the balcony below. Hernandez would then be transported to a local hospital for lacerations and smoke inhalation. A Whittier Police officer would also be treated for smoke inhalation but sustained no significant injuries.

While Hernandez was sticking to his elaborate story, evidence uncovered by LACO Fire Department Arson Investigators would disprove his anecdote. While exploring the apartment, investigators struggled to uncover any broken glass consistent with a Molotov cocktail or similar incendiary device. Furthermore, they discovered a burn pattern consistent with a fire started by a lone cigarette or a similar product.

While the investigation continues, it appears evidence will again disprove another deceitful claim.