#ICYMI: A roundup of notable incidents involving the California Highway Patrol features a wide range of topics for this installment. Those include two freeway shooting suspects arrested, the continued fight against retail crime, the Oceanside Area confiscating approximately $300,000 worth of narcotics, an officer taking on the role of a firefighter, and a CHP Explorer earning the Academy’s female physical fitness award.
Freeway Shooting Suspects
On August 6, CHP Hayward Area officers responded to a car fire on Interstate 880. The driver reported that another vehicle pulled alongside her, and an occupant fired a single shot, causing her to crash into the center median wall, igniting her car. Detectives from the Golden Gate Division’s Special Investigations Unit (SIU) used Flock Safety cameras to identify a vehicle that matched the suspect’s description, and naming Elias Jimenez and Maria Martinez as suspects. On August 15, SIU detectives and a CHP SWAT team arrested Jimenez and Martinez at their residence. Both were booked on multiple felony charges, including attempted murder and assault with a deadly weapon. On August 21, charges were announced against both suspects by the Alameda County District Attorney’s Office.
Retail Crime Fight
Following an investigation by the CHP’s Organized Retail Crime Taskforce (ORCTF), an Inglewood father-daughter duo was arrested and charged for stealing nearly $400,000 in goods and selling counterfeit items at a swap meet. Johny Arciniegas-Cortes, and his daughter, Paula Arciniegas, were arrested on warrants without incident in Anaheim. The father and daughter team has been observed numerous times committing retail thefts throughout Southern California and are believed to be responsible for stealing approximately $10,000 in merchandise from several retailers.
Following a meticulous month-long investigation in the northern half of the state, the CHP’s ORCTF successfully recovered stolen merchandise worth over $450,000 from a residence in Oakland. The discovery revealed a substantial quantity of stolen items, leading investigators to a storage facility in Oakland leased by the suspect. Further examination of the facility led to additional stolen goods. Retail industry allies who aided in the operation estimated the combined value of the retrieved items - predominantly sourced from drug stores - at over $450,000. The suspect, Claudia Cruz, was arrested for participating in the fencing operation. Cruz is facing charges of organized retail crime, stolen property possession and conspiracy to commit a crime.
Officers Seize Narcotics
CHP Oceanside officers confiscated an estimated $300,000 worth of unlawful narcotics, including methamphetamine, during a routine traffic enforcement stop. The CHP remains diligent in its mission to provide the highest level of safety and service, and that includes disrupting the trafficking of illegal drugs.
Tackling Other Duties
While patrolling during the graveyard shift, CHP Merced’s Officer Justin Maier adopted another responsibility - firefighting. Upon witnessing a grass fire on the roadside, Officer Maier promptly intervened with his extinguisher to ensure community safety. The role of a CHP officer extends beyond traffic stops and paperwork. If you are passionate and want an ever-evolving career that allows you to serve your community diligently, visit the CHP website to learn more about joining the CHP family.
Explorer Earns Fitness Award
CHP is pleased to announce that Explorer Elizabeth Cornejo has graduated from the rigorous Level IV Explorer Academy and was honored with the Female Physical Fitness Award. The Level IV Academy, a challenging week-long training program, provides an immersive experience simulating the preparation of a CHP cadet. Explorer Cornejo and her classmates engaged in practical training, including handling departmental firearms at the range, understanding vehicle dynamics at the EVOC course and mastering vehicle recovery techniques on the Skid Pan. If you or someone you know is between the ages of 15 and 20 and interested in the CHP Explorer Program, contact your local CHP area office, or visit CHPMadeForMore.com for more information.
