Late Tuesday afternoon, April 9, the Glenn County Sheriff’s Office issued a press release concerning the shooting that took place at the Black Bear Diner in Willows on April 7.
According to the release, at 9:37 a.m. on Sunday, April 7, the Glenn County Sheriff’s Office received a report of a physical altercation in the Black Bear Diner parking lot in Willows.
Deputies arrived on scene and found the involved parties had fled the scene prior to their arrival.
After speaking with witnesses, deputies learned one of the involved parties of the altercation had fired a handgun at the other involved parties as they were fleeing the Black Bear Diner parking lot.
Shortly after the incident in the parking lot, it was reported that Brian Eldridge, 41, walked into Glenn Medical Center with a possible gunshot or stab wound. Deputies responded to Glenn Medical Center and learned Eldridge was the victim of a stabbing.
Through witness statements and video surveillance, deputies were able to determine Eldridge was involved in the altercation at the Black Bear Diner and was subsequently arrested for willfully discharging a firearm in a grossly negligent manner and for receiving or being in possession of stolen property.
(Note: The GCSO media release strongly suggests that Eldridge was arrested at Glenn Medical Center, the address for which is 1133 West Sycamore Street. Previously, the Glenn County Jail’s news release for bookings on Sunday, April 7, gave only the address for the arrest location: “1333 West Sycamore Street”, which is the address for the Sycamore West Apartments. A call for clarification by The Observer to the GCSO on Wednesday was unsuccessful due to the fact that those who would know with certainty were out of the office, but it was recommended that The Observer “go with” Tuesday’s press release and give the arrest location as Glenn Medical Center.)
According to the GCSO media release, while responding to the above incident to assist the Glenn County Sheriff’s Office, the California Highway Patrol located a motorcyclist believed to be fleeing from scene at the Black Bear Diner incident. CHP conducted an investigative stop on the motorcycle at Highway 99 and County Road 48 in Willows.
The rider was contacted and identified as Bradley Besana, 35. Deputies were able to determine Besana was involved in the altercation at Black Bear Diner and was subsequently arrested for allegedly riding without a license, carrying a concealed stolen firearm, and being in possession of or receiving stolen property.
As of this time, the other involved parties have not been identified and the investigation is ongoing. Anyone with knowledge about the crimes or witnesses who were not contacted at the scene are urged to contact Detective Lopeteguy at the Glenn Investigations and Narcotics Task Force at 530-934-6431, or in person at the Glenn County Sheriff’s Office, 543 West Oak Street, Willows.
Reports that an Orland High School student had brought a firearm to campus and brandished it sent many parents and students into a panic on Tuesday.
According to a press release from the Orland Police Department, at 9:44 a.m. on April 9, Orland police officers were contacted by Orland High School administrators regarding a student brandishing a firearm.
Officers contacted several witnesses, who confirmed a 16-year-old male student brandished what was described as a black handgun.
While officers were investigating the incident, the high school was placed on a lockdown.
Officers were canvassing the area for the suspect, described as a white male juvenile wearing a white hooded sweatshirt and blue jeans.
The boy called the Glenn County Sheriff’s Office communications center to surrender himself to law enforcement. Officers with the Orland Police Department and California Highway Patrol located the boy in the area of First Street and Swift Street in Orland.
The boy was detained without incident. During the investigation a replica firearm was found.
The juvenile was arrested and charged with alleged possession of a replica firearm in public and on school campus, making criminal threats, and brandishing a replica firearm. The boy was turned over to the Glenn County Probation Department.
This investigation is on-going. Anyone with information related to this incident is encouraged to contact Orland Police Department Officer Lowery at 530-865-1616.
At 10:53 a.m., Victor Perry, Superintendent of the Orland Unified School District, sent out the following message:
“Your student is safe…. At approximately 10:29 a.m. on 4/9/24 Orland High School and North Valley High School went into a precautionary shelter in place.
“Staff have secured the areas for which they are responsible and will remain inside with students until further notice.
“Traffic inside and outside the area may be restricted, and you are asked to avoid this area until further notice. Please do not call for come to the school.
“Additional information will be communicated to you as soon as possible. Thank you.”
At about 1 p.m., the Orland Unified School District issued this press release:
“After the start of school today, the District received a report that a student had brought a weapon to the Orland High School campus, which the District later learned was a BB gun.
“District personnel took prompt and immediate steps for the protection and safety of students and staff, and initiated a shelter in place. The District immediately engaged law enforcement, and the Orland Police Department and California Highway Patrol responded to the school site.
“The District also locked down North Valley High School until law enforcement declared it safe for normal school activities to resume.
“Fortunately, no students or staff members were hurt, and the BB gun was not discharged on campus.
“The district takes this situation very seriously and is continuing to work with the Orland Police Department as they investigate this matter.
“While the District understands the desire for more information, there are specific laws that govern school districts that prohibit the District from sharing details of an ongoing investigation involving students.
“We will continue to work closely with law enforcement, mental health professionals, parents, and others committed to providing a safe learning and working environment for our students and staff.
“If you have any additional information regarding this matter, please call the District’s Superintendent, Victor Perry at 530-865-1200.
As mentioned above, some parents and other family members were highly agitated by the lack of detailed information from the school district. Others, however, felt the district acted appropriately.
One person on Facebook finally got fed up with a panicky family member of a student. The person wrote:
“It was a BB gun. You are freaking people out. The parents got updates as it was happening.”
The Willows Black Bear Diner. Glenn County Observer photo by Larry Judkins.
By Larry Judkins
Glenn County Observer
Two members of a biker gang got into a fight Sunday, with one of them pulling a gun and firing it.
The incident occurred about 9:38 Sunday morning, April 7, at the Black Bear Diner in Willows.
According to the Glenn County Sheriff’s log, the sheriff’s dispatch center received a call from the Black Bear Diner, 246 North Humboldt Avenue, regarding “subjects from a biker gang in a physical fight”.
The log item continues, “A firearm was produced, and shots were fired.
“Deputies responded to the scene, and two subjects were eventually arrested, and a stolen firearm was recovered.
“The subjects arrested were Brian Eldridge and Bradley Besana, and they were booked into the Glenn County Jail.”
It is easy to infer from the sheriff’s log that Eldridge and Besana were arrested together at the diner sometime after the arrival of the deputies.
However, both the Glenn County Jail’s press release and Sunday morning’s police scanner broadcasts indicate that the two men left the Black Bear separately on motorcycles, and they were taken into custody at different times in different places.
According to the jail’s media release, at 11:21 a.m., Bradley Michael Besana, 35, of Corning, was arrested on Highway 99 at County Road 48, Willows, on charges alleging driving without a license (a misdemeanor), receiving stolen property (a misdemeanor), and carrying a concealed stolen weapon (a felony).
His bail was set at $10,000.
At 12:48 p.m., Brian Lawrence Eldridge, 41, of Orland, was arrested at , Sycamore West Apartments, 1333 West Sycamore Street, Willows, on charges alleging receiving stolen property, and willfully discharging a firearm in a grossly negligent manner (both misdemeanors).
“Daisy’s News Briefs: The Long and Short of It” is dedicated to the memory of Daisy, the official newshound of The Glenn County Observer, who died on Jan. 22.
Mr. Q. cheats death: Former Orland High School music teacher, Orland City Councilman, Glenn County Supervisor, and Glenn County Superintendent of Schools Tracey Quarne narrowly escaped death last month.
Mr. Q., as he is known by many, was recently in Orland, along with his Quarne – er, corny ‑ jokes. (Example: Upon running into him – figuratively, not literally – at Sav-Mor market, The Observer asked him, “What brings you back to Orland?” Q. replied without missing a beat, “My car.”)
We’ll let Mr. Q. explain what happened after he got home in North Dakota. Below is his April First Facebook post, with only some minor editing by The Observer:
“And what a weekend it was!
“I returned from a road trip Thursday, March 21. I had a wicked stomach ache, thought the problem was my infamous cooking, so I dropped in at the Sanford drop-in Clinic North. The ER “Doc” I saw, Dr. Wolf, immediately told me to get to the ER Dept. I did.
“Once inside, the staff immediately took me to an ER room, where I was told to get a CT Scan. I did that.
“I returned to the ER room, where I was greeted by a surgical crew of some eight very professional-looking characters. The eldest of the bunch stepped out and shook my hand. He was Dr. Pansegrau. He is a surgeon.
“He said they normally provide surgery when the aneurism reaches 5 to 7 centimeters. I asked, What was mine?, not realizing I had one. He said, 12 to 13 centimeters.
“I asked how long would I have were I not to have the surgery. He then said, You’re not supposed to be here. I must’ve reacted with a bit of shock as he said you’re here for a reason.
“The next morning surgery, coupled with about three days of blur. Lots of phone calls, weird diet, and erratic sleeping hours – if at all.
I might be exiting the hospital tomorrow morning – alive!
“So, this is me,” Q. wrote, referring to a selfie he posted, “after a Triple A operation (Abdominal Aortic Aneurism). It’s a big operation and, if you need it, well worth it! Think Filet!
“The cut goes all the way down to the playground, and you absolutely look like hell!”
Cougar spotted northwest of Orland: Here, kitty, kitty, kitty! A “cat of a thousand names” (cougar, mountain lion, puma, panther, painter, catamount, cat of the mountain, mountain screamer, red tiger, Mexican lion, and American lion – and that doesn’t exhaust the list) was reportedly spotted Saturday morning, April 6, near the intersection of County Roads H and 7.
That is not far north of Stony Creek. As someone who responded to the warning posted by the person who saw the big cat, there are probably always mountain lions in the Stony Creek basin. We just don’t always see or hear them.
I have never seen a live one in the wild, but I once heard one when I was living north of Orland. It was very early in the morning, and I had just gotten home. As I was getting out of my van, I heard what I at first thought was a woman screaming, coming from the creek area. I continued listening, and I soon realized it wasn’t a human, but the mating call of a mountain lion – a scream I had previously heard on YouTube videos.
Anyway, Dear Readers who live near Stony Creek, don’t panic, but keep an eye on your pets and livestock, especially at night. There’s a ghost cat prowling (another name for a mountain lion, by the way).
Salgado busted for vandalizing church: Speaking of prowlers, Hermelindo Salgado was arrested shortly after noon on Thursday, April 4, for allegedly trying to break into the Evangelical Free Church, 614 A Street, Orland.
A couple of hours earlier in the day, he was seen trespassing on private property on County Road 12, near Taco Bell. According to the Glenn County Sheriff’s log: At 10:14 a.m. on April 4, Deputy Thompson was dispatched to a report of a Latino man who had been trespassing on private property at 6408 County Road 12. The deputy responded to the area but was unable to locate the man. The deputy spoke with the reporting party, Daniel Bell, who said he had last seen the man in the area of County Roads 12 and HH. Bell requested the man be admonished for trespassing. The deputy conducted an extensive check of the area but was unable to locate the man. Orland police officers later contacted the man, identified as Hermelindo Salgado. He was admonished for trespassing at 6408 County Road 12.
Orland police arrested Salgado. He was booked into the Glenn County Jail on charges alleging vandalizing a place of worship (a misdemeanor). His bail was set at $0.00 – in other words: nothing. He was out of jail the following morning. The Glenn County Sheriff’s Office soon received a call regarding a man attempting to rummage through the dumpster at the Dollar Tree on Humboldt Avenue in Willows. He was later seen on the property of Taco Bell, on the other side of Humboldt. Deputies finally caught up with him at the bridge on Wood Street where it goes over I-5. Salgado was admonished for trespassing at the Dollar Tree.
His stay on April 4 was not the only time Salgado has been a guest at the Grey Bar Hotel. Just two days before, he was booked for allegedly being under the influence of a controlled substance. According to the Orland police log: At 2:11 a.m. on Tuesday, April 2, in the “30 block of East Tehama Street”, Orland police officers were dispatched to a report of an unknown man standing in someone’s yard. Officers contacted Hermelindo Salgado, 35, of Orland, who was subsequently arrested and booked for allegedly being under the influence of a controlled substance. According to the Glenn County Jail, Salgado’s bail was set at $0.00 (nothing) on that occasion, also.
Ignoring the many times that Salgado was contacted by law enforcement and even booked into the jail but never charged for various offenses, Salgado was actually found guilty in court of the following: In November, 2022, he was sentenced to 60 days in jail and had his probation terminated after previously having been found guilty of possession of methamphetamine and violation of probation. In April of 2023, he was sentenced to 30 days in jail after previously having been found guilty of second-degree burglary and violation of probation. And, in June of 2023, he was sentenced to two years in prison after previously having been convicted of second-degree burglary and – you guess it – violation of probation.
Obviously, Salgado did not serve anywhere near his full sentence.
As a rule, whenever you park your vehicle in the Walmart parking lot in Willows, you hear music from the “Walmart Channel” being broadcast over their speaker system. However, when this reporter visited Walmart on Wednesday to do some grocery shopping, he was surprised to hear live music playing when he got out of his van. Not only that, the instruments being played were obviously fiddles, and the two boys playing them were performing The White Stripes’ “Seven Nation Army”. I went inside the store and did my shopping, then, after loading my purchases into my van, I grabbed my camera and walked over to the young musicians. I learned that they were brothers: Ari Nercessian, 14, and Aven Nercessian, 12, of Stonyford. Their musical tastes range from Country and Gospel to Alternative and Classic Rock, among other genres. According to their father, they plan to audition for America’s Got Talent on June 20. Right now, though, they are trying to raise enough money to buy electric violins. For more information, visit www.fiddlinbrothers.com. Glenn County Observer photo by Larry Judkins.
Editor’s Note: The following report tells of a 16-year-old Orland boy who is accused of committing a double “deliberate homicide” in Montana. “Deliberate homicide” seems to be the equivalent of first-degree murder. Because this is such a serious crime, The Observer has decided to include the name of the accused teen.
Anyway, on March 1, The Glenn County Observer published the following story:
4 arrested after Orland shooting
Glenn County Observer
Four Corning teenagers, three of whom were minors, were taken into custody late Wednesday night following a shooting that took place at the Paigewood Apartments in east Orland.
At about 10:52 p.m. on Feb. 28, Orland police officers responded to the Paigewood Apartments, 745 Paigewood Drive, for a report of multiple shots fired from two vehicles.
Officers found evidence of shots having been fired, and, with the help of Glenn County Sheriff’s deputies and California Highway Patrol officers, began searching for the two vehicles: a black Honda Accord and a black Dodge Charger.
Both vehicles were found in different locations (one of them on South Street), and the occupants of at least one of them were detained at gunpoint.
Following an investigation, firearms and other evidence were discovered and seized.
Angelo Hawk Sanchez, 18, of Corning, was arrested at South and Eighth Streets and booked into the Glenn County Jail on charges alleging carrying a loaded handgun by someone who was not the registered owner (a felony), possession of a billy club, leaded cane, blackjack, etc. (a felony), willful discharge of a firearm in a grossly negligent manner (a misdemeanor), and contributing to the delinquency of a minor (a misdemeanor).
Sanchez’s bail was set at $20,000. A call to the jail Friday afternoon indicated that Sanchez was no longer an inmate there.
The three boys, ages 17, 16, and 16, also from Corning, were arrested for firearms and weapons violations and turned over to Glenn County probation officers.
No injuries were reported during the incident and both vehicles were towed.
The Orland Police Department thanked the Glenn County Sheriff’s Office and the CHP for their assistance.
A month later, on Thursday, March 28, Hill County, Montana, Sheriff’s deputies were dispatched to a report of shots fired in the parking lot of the D&L Bar in Box Elder. According to a complaint and affidavit of probable cause from Agent Ryan Eamon of the Montana Division of Criminal Investigation in the case of The State of Montana v. Angelo Hawk Sanchez:
At about 1:30 a.m. on March 28, Hill County Sheriff’s Deputy Cole Molyneaux was dispatched to 335 Highway 87, the D&L Bar, in Box Elder, Mont. Hill County dispatch relayed that a 911 call was received that gunshots had been fired at the bar.
While he was responding, dispatch informed Deputy Molyneaux that a gunshot victim was located in front of the Box Elder School. Deputy Molyneaux requested Hill County Sheriff’s Deputy Hooper continue to respond to the bar, while he, Molyneaux, respond to the gunshot victim at the school.
Upon Deputy Molyneaux’s arrival at the school, he found Darrin Wade Caplette. Caplette was receiving medical treatment from Rocky Boy Indian Reservation officers.
Molyneaux assisted with Caplette’s medical aid, during which he knew from his training, experience, and observations that Caplette had suffered multiple gunshot wounds.
A Rocky Boy ambulance arrived at the Box Elder School, and Caplette was transported to the Northern Montana Hospital. Deputy Molyneaux knew from his training and experience that Caplette’s condition was deteriorating rapidly.
Deputy Molyneaux saw Melody Bernard on Main Street in Box Elder. Molyneaux knew from prior experience and contacts that Bernard was an associate of Caplette.
Deputy Molyneaux spoke with Bernard, who was highly distraught and crying. The only information Molyneaux could ascertain was that Caplette had “fallen off the wagon” and Bernard was instructed to find him.
Bernard told Molyneaux that she found Caplette at the D&L Bar. There, he waved at Bernard, and she spoke with him.
Bernard told the deputy that she believed that Caplette thought she was fighting with someone. She then told Molyneaux that when she was leaving the bar, she heard gunshots from the parking lot.
Bernard said she saw Caplette on the ground, screaming for her. She gathered Caplette into her vehicle, a white Dodge pickup, and transported him.
The other man, Thomas Roderick (T.R.) Yallup, was also transported in a private vehicle. The ambulance met it in Laredo, Hill County, Mont.
Deputy Molyneaux then went to the D&L Bar, where Deputy Hooper told Molyneaux that individuals in the parking lot were identified as witnesses to the shooting.
From information gathered from the witnesses, Hooper learned that the victims, Darrin Caplette, 41, and Thomas Roderick (T.R.) Yallup, 42, both of whom were residents of the Rocky Boy Indian Reservation, were in the parking lot when the shooting occurred. The witnesses said they did not see the shooting but heard the gunshots and saw the aftermath.
The D&L Bar owner met with the Hill County deputies at the scene. Deputy Molyneaux requested Deputy Hooper go with the owner and view the surveillance footage from the bar.
While Hooper was with the bar owner, Deputy Molyneaux walked through the crime scene, looking for evidence of the shooting. He found blood stains, saliva, tire tracks, possible shoe impressions, and personal items.
Deputy Hooper returned from viewing the surveillance footage and reported that there were two suspects involved in the shooting and both of them fired guns. Hooper added that the vehicle they exited belonged to Melody Bernard.
Deputy Molyneaux notified the Rocky Boy Police Department of the suspect vehicle from the shooting. Deputy Bicknell told him that both Caplette and Yallup had died from the injuries they sustained in the shooting.
Deputy Hooper told Deputy Molyneaux that he was able to review the footage in more detail. He said he saw two suspects exit an older model, silver, pickup with several unique identifying characteristics. Deputies Hooper and Molyneaux know from prior experience that the vehicle in question belonged to Melody Bernard.
The footage showed her vehicle parked a distance away from the bar’s parking lot. The two suspects exited the vehicle and walked through the road embankment or drainage area to a collar-style fence.
The suspects moved around the gas pump in the D&L parking lot and approached Caplette and Yallup. One suspect was wearing all dark-colored clothing while the other was wearing blue sweatpants and a black hooded sweatshirt.
The faces of both suspects were obscured.
Later, Division of Criminal Investigations (DCI) Agent Bruce McDermott was provided video footage from March 27 of Melody Bernard’s residence. Three males shown on that footage corresponded with the suspects seen on the video footage from the D&L Bar on March 28.
Also on March 28, DCI Agent McDermott interviewed Melody Bernard, who was the registered owner of the suspect vehicle. Bernard identified the three individuals in the suspect vehicle as Angel Castillo, Miguel Ibanez, and Angelo Sanchez.
Two suspects, Ibanez and Castillo, allegedly presented firearms from their persons, firing several times at Caplette and Yallup. The suspect vehicle was seen moving closer to Ibanez and Castillo during the shooting, thereby aiding in their flight from the scene.
Deputies Molyneaux and Hooper determined that the suspects traveled away from the shooting the same direction from which they approached. The suspects then got into a silver or gold Chevy pickup known to belong to Bernard and fled the scene, traveling north on Montana Highway 87.
During a walk-through, DCI Agent Ryan Eamon observed a dark-colored Mercedes parked in the D&L lot, reportedly belonging to one of the victims.
While processing the scene at the D&L Bar, Montana DCI agents, along with deputies from the Hill County Sheriff’s Office, began initial interviews with individuals identified as people of interest in the shooting. DCI agents found evidence at the bar consistent with the shooting.
During the investigation, law enforcement gathered information that the suspects involved in the shooting were at the Super 8 Motel in Havre, Mont. Super 8 management allowed law enforcement to view the room registry and found that room #109 was registered to Angel Castillo.
During the earlier interviews by law enforcement officers, Angel Castillo was allegedly identified as the suspect driving the Chevy pickup away from the D&L Bar. The pickup was seen on surveillance footage from the bar as the vehicle the shooting suspects came to the bar in and entered as they fled from the scene.
Officers proceeded to room #109 at the Super 8 Motel and knocked on the door several times. Four individuals were found in the room.
The four were identified as Ashley Cortez, Angelo Sanchez, Miguel Ibanez, and Angel Castillo. They were transported to the Hill County Sheriff’s Office, where they were interviewed.
All four were advised of their rights. They declined to speak with law enforcement.
Three of the individuals – Sanchez, Ibanez, and Castillo – were arrested for deliberate homicide. A person convicted of deliberate homicide can be punished by death unless the guilty person is less than 18 years of age at the time of the commission of the crime, or by life imprisonment, or by imprisonment in the state prison for a term of not less than 10 years or more than 100 years.
Hill County deputy sheriffs were assisted in their investigation by Cascade County Sheriff’s detectives, tribal police, Chouteau County deputies, and the Montana Division of Criminal Investigation.
Hill County Sheriff Jamie Ross said, “The initial information indicates that this was a targeted assault directed at these two men and we don’t have any evidence currently that would indicate a risk to the public at large.”
Because this is a homicide investigation, the bodies will be sent to the Montana State Crime Lab for autopsy.
Back on Monday, March 4, Miguel A. Reyes Ibanez of Orland went to the Orland Police Department lobby to report his 16-year-old son missing. Since he lives outside the city limits of Orland, the Glenn County Sheriff’s took the call.
Deputy Gonzalez was dispatched and contacted Ibanez in the OPD lobby to take the missing person report for his son. The boy was entered into the Missing or Unidentified Persons System (MUPS).
A celebration of the life of Richard Jerome “Dick” Enck is scheduled for 2 p.m. on Saturday, April 20, at St. Paul’s Lutheran Hall, 565 Main Street, Artois.
“Your presences and reminiscences will help us honor his memory,” say his loved ones. “Together, let us celebrate the joy he brought into our lives.”
Guests are invited to contribute a dish or dessert to share.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Artois Volunteer Fire Department.
Dick Enck died at his home in Artois on Sunday, March 10, 2024.
He was born in Redding to Margaret Elizabeth Enck and Russel Wayne Enck on April 21, 1944.
The third item in yesterday’s “Daisy’s News Briefs: The Long and Short of It” concerned a pickup that drove off northbound Interstate 5 and plunged into the Tehama-Colusa Canal.
Shortly after publishing this news brief, I discovered that the California Highway Patrol had sent out a press release regarding the accident. My original story had just used information I gathered from police scanner broadcasts, the CHP’s traffic incident website, and one or two phone calls I made to involved parties.
This update includes that information along with information from the CHP’s press release:
A pickup with five occupants traveled off the northbound side of Interstate 5 late Friday morning and plunged into the Tehama-Colusa Canal located between County Roads 25 and 27.
The incident happened at about 10:21 a.m. on March 29. According to the news release’s summary from CHP Officer T. Krueger, Daniel Ramos, 19, of San Lorenzo, Calif., was driving his red Nissan Titan pickup north on I-5, north of County Road 27 and south of the Tehama-Colusa Canal, which flows under the freeway.
However, the list of persons involved in the accident, just above the summary in the media release, names Alejandro Campana, 20, of San Leandro, as the driver and Ramos as one of the passengers.
Anyway, according to the CHP officer, the weather was cloudy and blustery, but not yet raining.
The driver of the pickup (whoever it was) was traveling at about 70 miles per hour. For reasons that have not yet been determined, he allowed the Nissan to steer to the right, onto the gravel shoulder.
Then he steered left, back onto the freeway. He then allowed the pickup to steer to the right again, completely off the roadway and onto the gravel shoulder.
The Nissan continued out of control in a northerly direction as it passed outside the bridge guardrail and onto the raised canal embankment, where the vehicle became airborne. The pickup struck the outside of the bridge rail as it was descending into the water-filled canal.
The Nissan entered the canal and immediately began to sink. All five occupants had been wearing their seatbelts, which they removed and then swam out of the vehicle through the broken front driver’s side window.
The pickup sank to the bottom and was completely submerged. A witness stopped and helped the occupants out of the canal by extending a shovel for them to hold as they climbed up the smooth, slick canal bank.
He also rendered medical aid. [Editor: Yay, unnamed witness!]
According to scanner broadcasts, Artois Fire Department volunteers began responding at 10:30 a.m.
On Highway 99, an Orland firefighter (he sounded like Jerry Kraemer, whose manufacturing facility is nearby) opened a gate to the north side of the canal, thereby giving Artois firefighters and others access.
The Orland firefighter temporarily assumed incident command.
At 10:33 a.m., the Orland volunteer reported that all five occupants were out of the water and their injuries were being assessed. [Editor: Again, yay, unnamed witness!]
Two minutes later, it was announced that all the accident victims were “walking wounded” and that Westside Ambulance was “about a minute out.”
Shortly thereafter, incident command was turned over to Artois.
At 10:51 a.m., an Artois firefighter reported that “patients were being transported” (see below) and Artois Fire units were being released at the scene.
“Additionally,” said the firefighter, “Fire cut the lock on the north side of the T-C Canal, north of Road 27.” The dispatcher was asked to try to make contact and “let the landowner know.”
According to the CHP’s press release, the five occupants of the Nissan were assisted at the scene by witnesses who stopped and immediately rendered aid [Editor: Yay, witnesses who got involved!], in addition to the CHP, Westside Ambulance personnel, Artois Fire Department volunteers, and an Orland volunteer firefighter. [Editor: Yay to all involved!]
All five occupants were forced to leave their belongings, including their phones and wallets, in the Nissan.
The Observer later learned that Bambauer Towing was called to remove the pickup but was cancelled just minutes later, as it was not immediately recoverable. According to the CHP, the Glenn County Sheriff’s Dive Team will remove it at a later date.
CHP Officers Krueger and Thaddeus Williams provided all the parties with a ride to the Walmart in Willows to obtain dry clothing. [Editor: Yay, Officers Krueger and Williams!]
The staff at Walmart was told of the circumstances and donated new clothing, shoes, and a hot meal. The CHP’s media release states, “The young men were very grateful to Walmart for its generosity.” [Editor: Yay, Walmart!]
The release names the five as Alejandro Campana, 20, of San Leandro; Daniel Ramos, 19, of San Lorenzo; Alberto Ramos, 19, of San Leandro; and Diego Ramos, 19, of San Lorenzo.
The fifth occupant was listed only as a 17-year-old boy. His name and even his city of residence were improperly withheld. [Editor: Boo!]
“Daisy’s News Briefs: The Long and Short of It” is dedicated to the memory of Daisy, the official newshound of The Glenn County Observer, who died on Jan. 22.
GCSO gets it right: In a county where officials tend to treat almost everything as if it is a threat to national security, it is refreshing that the Glenn County Sheriff’s Office recently got something right.
According to the Glenn County Sheriff’s log for Wednesday, March 27, “Deputy Robert Thompson was dispatched to 4540 County Road FF, Orland, for a report of a neighbor dispute. The deputy contacted Christopher Rivera, who reported a neighbor had put up a sign that had offensive language.
“As the sign was on private property, Rivera was provided with information on civil liberties as well as information on Glenn County Code Enforcement. No law enforcement action was warranted.”
The Free Speech Clause of the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution protects all speech, offensive and inoffensive speech alike. In fact, inoffensive speech does not even need constitutional protection; only offensive speech does.
So, good job, Deputy Thompson!
Now, if only authorities in the Cities of Willows and Orland and the County of Glenn could understand such things as:
HIPAA does not apply to law enforcement entities or volunteer fire departments;
The posting of booking photos on social media is legally forbidden (with some exceptions) only to law enforcement entities that have their own social media accounts, and booking photos are public records and must be released by anyone who makes a request, who can then do whatever they want with the photos;
Unless a juvenile is accused of committing a crime or is the victim of sexual abuse or domestic violence, the withholding of the child’s name is not permissible (for example, a child who was an occupant of a vehicle in a traffic accident must be identified just like the adult occupants); and
Unless it is a crime scene, reporters cannot legally be kept out of the proximity of events like fires or vehicle accidents, and even in the case of crimes, reasonable restrictions must be applied.
Thursday afternoon, the reporter for The Observer drove out to Road FF, looking for the offensive sign. However, he couldn’t find it.
Corning fire dispatcher Mura retires: Troy Mura, longtime fire dispatcher, retired on Thursday, March 28.
Mura was a dispatcher for many years for the Corning Fire Department and, following the retirement of Frances Pratt McCollum in December of 2007, the Orland and Capay Fire Departments.
He and the other Corning fire dispatchers stopped dispatching for Orland and Capay after all county fire dispatching was taken over by the Glenn County Sheriff’s Office earlier this month.
Mura was on duty on April 10, 2014, when a FedEx tractor-trailer collided with a tour bus on I-5 in Orland, killing 10 people. He handled an enormous number of calls that day, first from people reporting the accident, then from families desperately seeking information about the accident victims.
Late Thursday afternoon, an announcement was heard on the scanner, congratulating Mura on his retirement, thanking him for his service, and wishing him well in his new endeavors. Several Glenn County firefighters and others echoed the sentiments.
Pickup takes a plunge: A pickup with five occupants traveled off the northbound side of Interstate 5 late Friday morning and plunged into the Tehama-Colusa Canal located between County Roads 25 and 27.
The pickup became fully submerged, but all five occupants were able to get out.
The incident happened at about 10:23 a.m. on March 29. Artois Fire Department volunteers began responding at 10:30 a.m.
On Highway 99, an Orland firefighter (he sounded like Jerry Kraemer, whose manufacturing facility is nearby) opened a gate to the north side of the canal, thereby giving Artois firefighters and others access.
The Orland firefighter temporarily assumed incident command.
At 10:33 a.m., the Orland volunteer reported that all five occupants were out of the water and their injuries were being assessed.
Two minutes later, it was announced that all the accident victims were “walking wounded” and that Westside Ambulance was “about a minute out.”
Shortly thereafter, incident command was turned over to Artois.
At 10:51 a.m., it was reported that “patients were being transported” and Artois Fire units were being released at the scene.
“Additionally, fire cut the lock on the north side of the T-C Canal, north of Road 27.” The dispatcher was asked to try to make contact and “let the landowner know.”
Bambauer Towing was called to remove the pickup but was cancelled just minutes later as it was not currently recoverable.
“Daisy’s News Briefs: The Long and Short of It” is dedicated to the memory of Daisy, the official newshound of The Glenn County Observer, who died on Jan. 22.
Tuesday morning fire in Stony Creek basin: Shortly before 6 a.m. on Tuesday, March 26, the Orland Fire Department was dispatched to a report of a fire in the basin of Stony Creek, just north of Stony Creek Drive.
A column of dark smoke could be seen, and the Willows, Artois, and Capay Fire Departments were called to provide mutual aid.
The fire was found to be a fully involved homeless camp.
A few minutes after 6 a.m., the Artois and Capay Fire Departments responded.
At about 6:09 a.m., Orland Fire Chief Justin Chaney reported that forward progress of the fire had been stopped and clean-up had begun.
The Willows Fire Department’s response was cancelled, but Artois’s and Capay’s responses were continued.
At about 6:28 a.m., Chief Chaney requested an ambulance for a homeless man who was having difficulty breathing. Westside Ambulance responded from its Orland quarters, first as “Code 3” (lights and sirens), then reduced to “Code 2”.
Capay and Artois firefighters were released at about 7 a.m.
Just before 7:30 a.m., Chief Chaney reported that “mop-up” was complete and that the Orland units would be returning to the fire station.
Subways reopen: The Subway sandwich shops in Willows and Orland have reopened.
Eighteen shops from Willows to Redding, all with the same owner, closed up unexpectedly in January.
The Subway in Willows reopened on Friday, March 15. The Orland shop was scheduled to reopen on Wednesday, March 27.
Both fast food restaurants, as well as one in Corning, are under new ownership – one Mike Sharma, according to Action News Now.
The Subway in Hamilton City, inside the convenience store at the Sinclair gas station, has remained open.
Accused murderer’s prelim set: The preliminary hearing for Joseph Ryan Corona, accused of stabbing to death his wife at the Cedar Hills apartments in Willows on Sunday, March 17, has been scheduled for 8:30 a.m. on Wednesday, April 3.
The hearing is to be presided over by Judge Alicia Ekland.
Corona pled not guilty to the murder charge on Friday, March 22, before Judge Donald Cole Byrd.
The Glenn County Observer 