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209 news briefs
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• MOTORCYCLIST CHASE REACHES 130 MPH: STOCKTON - A motorcyclist was arrested on charges of felony evasion after leading CHP offices on a high speed chase Monday afternoon at speed in excess of 130 mph.

Tony P. Goans, 26, had pled guilty to felony evasion two months earlier after being arrested in a similar instance by Stockton CHP. This time, though he had charges of driving on a suspended license, assault on a peace officer and burglary added as well.

Stockton CHP officers on Monday at 12:42 p.m. observed three motorcycles northbound on Interstate 5 at a high rate of speed. An officer attempted to overtake the motorcycles when he observed the reckless vehicles exit the freeway at Benjamin Holt Drive. The officer observed the motorcycles enter a gas station parking lot when he utilized his public address system to advise the riders to dismount their vehicles.

The rider of a red Suzuki GSXR (sport bike) accelerated away at a high rate of speed, and entered northbound I-5. The CHP initiated a pursuit of the motorcycle. The rider of the Suzuki continued on I-5 at speeds in excess of 130 miles per hour. The Suzuki began using multiple lanes in order to maneuver through traffic. The officer lost sight of the motorcycle and self-terminated the pursuit. Within minutes, citizens began calling 911 in order to report a red motorcycle at high speeds eastbound on Eight Mile Road.

Stockton CHP officers responded to the area from Highway 99 and I-5. At Eight Mile Road at Highway 99, officers caught up with the motorcycle.

The motorcycle turned southbound on the east Frontage Road. An officer activated his patrol motorcycle’s emergency lights and blocked the southbound lane. Traffic on the southbound frontage road came to a stop and the rider of the Suzuki passed stopped traffic on the right, and rode directly towards the officer. The rider of the Suzuki began to accelerate and turned towards the edge of the road, striking the front of the CHP patrol motorcycle in the process. The Suzuki entered northbound Highway 99 with the officer pursuing at speeds exceeding 130 miles per hour.

The Suzuki exited Highway 99 at Harney Lane, rode east and turned onto a dirt road. The rider ditched the Suzuki behind a small storage building, removed his helmet, jacket and gloves, and fled on foot. As CHP officers approached, the rider forced his way into a locked building, setting off the building security system. The rider fled the location and ran in a westerly direction. At a residence west of the location, the rider attempted to conceal himself from officers by giving the appearance of doing yard work. The rider was taken into custody without further incident.



• RIPON POLICE ARREST GRINCH WANNA-BES: RIPON - Try stealing Christmas in Ripon and you’re likely to get caught.

Ripon Police officers were dispatched to the area of Atlantic Avenue and Sea Gull Court on Friday at 11:21 p.m. regarding a possible theft in progress of Christmas decorations.  Emergency dispatch personnel expertly kept the caller on the line, giving responding officers continual updates on the suspect’s actions and location.  Ripon officers were already in the area, conducting holiday burglary patrols.  The first unit responded to the scene within minutes.

Officers made contact with the suspects in a black Acura Integra.  Burglary tools, a Christmas igloo decoration, and suspected stolen property were observed in plain sight in the suspect’s vehicle. The suspects were detained.

The victim of a vehicle burglary, at the same location where the Christmas decoration was stolen, was located.  He positively identified tools, and personal property, including the stolen igloo decoration, valued at over $1,800 as being stolen from his work truck.  These stolen items were recovered from inside the suspect’s vehicle.

Robert Emerson Wangelin, 39, of Modesto, was booked into the San Joaquin County Jail on felony charges including auto burglary, conspiracy, grand theft, and parole violation.

Bobby John Essary, 39, of Modesto, was booked into the San Joaquin County Jail on felony charges including auto burglary, conspiracy, and grand theft.



• GALGIANI CHAIRS STATE SENATE AG COMMITTEE: STOCKTON —State Senate Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg underscored the importance of the Central Valley’s agricultural industry by selecting Senator Cathleen Galgiani, D-Stockton, as the new Chair of the Senate Agriculture Committee.

Senator Galgiani brings enthusiasm and knowledge to the post after serving as Chair of the Assembly Agriculture Committee for four years.

“Agriculture is vitally important to the Central Valley,” Senator Galgiani said.  “I am honored that I can play a role in making sure that one of our leading industries is represented and protected.”

The Central Valley is one of the world’s most productive agricultural regions and is the largest patch of Class 1 soil in the world.  More than 230 crops are grown on less than 1 percent of the total farmland in the United States. The Central Valley produces 8 percent of the nation’s agricultural output by value:

 “Agriculture is our biggest employer,” Galgiani said. “As Ag Chair, I intend to make sure the industry continues to grow and flourish.”   

The 5th Senate District includes parts of Sacramento as well as all of San Joaquin and Stanislaus Counties.