Bay Area News Briefs

By Maya Strausberg

February 25, 2008

Missing Tenderloin girl found

A 10-year-old girl who was reported missing Saturday from the Tenderloin neighborhood turned up in a residence Sunday, according to San Francisco police spokesman Steve Mannina.

Mireya Zapata disappeared from the 400 block of Turk Street around 10:30 a.m., Mannina said.

At about 8:15 p.m. Sunday, Mireya walked into a residence and claimed she had been staying with a friend in Daly City, said Mannina, who added the girl was safe and sound back with her family.

San Jose's fifith homicide victim found in Hamann Park

A citizen walking in Hamann Park in San Jose Sunday morning discovered the body of what appears to be the city's fifth homicide victim this year, San Jose police Officer Enrique Garcia said.

The body, which appears to be that of a male, was found in the park, located at 1100 N. Central Ave., at about 8:45 a.m., Garcia said.

Police are investigating the death as a homicide, Garcia said.

Oakland shooting victim dies in hospital

An 18-year-old Oakland man who was shot near his home early Saturday morning died Saturday night, an Alameda County deputy coroner said Sunday.

Jesus Rubio was returning home and had parked his car in the 1200 block of 61st Avenue at about 5:11 a.m. when an unknown suspect approached him and shot him multiple times, officials said.

Rubio was transported to an area hospital where he died at about 11 p.m. Saturday, according to the coroner's office.

Benicia police investigate shooting

Benicia police are investigating a late Saturday night shooting that killed a young male victim, according to the Benicia Police Department.

Police were first called at about 10:10 p.m. to disperse a crowd that had gathered outside an 18th birthday party held at the Benicia National Guard Armory, according to the Police Department. An estimated 300 people were at the adult-chaperoned party in the 700 block of Hillcrest Avenue, police reported.

The crowd reportedly left the parking lot, and the party continued inside.

Police were then dispatched again to the Armory at about 11:15 p.m. on reports of gunshots, according to the Police Department.

Party attendees were leaving on foot and in vehicles as officers arrived, and police received support from additional agencies to deal with an unruly crowd, the Police Department reported.

Police were shutting down the party and responding to fights in the area when more shots were reported at the intersection of Hillcrest Avenue and East Fifth Street, police reported.

A young male victim was located at about 11:30 p.m. on El Bonito Way suffering a gunshot wound, police reported. He was taken to Kaiser Hospital in Vallejo, where he later died.

An investigation into the incident is ongoing and police ask that anyone with information call Detective Ken Hart at (707) 746-4252.

Missing Union City woman found

A mentally disabled Union City woman who went missing Saturday was found safe and sound in Hayward Sunday morning.

The 34-year-old woman was at the Seafood Center at Alvarado Boulevard and Dyer Street with her caregivers when they said she went missing around 11 a.m., according to Union City police Sgt. Raul Galindo.

The woman, who was described as having the mental capacity of a 7-year-old, was found in the area near Industrial Boulevard and Clawiter Road by Hayward police, Galindo said.

Police said she just kept walking and collecting cans to recycle. She was returned back home with her caregivers, according to Galindo.

Suspected drunken driver suffers major head injuries

A suspected drunken driver suffered major head injuries in Antioch early Sunday morning after crashing his vehicle into a power pole, Antioch police reported.

Elijah Martinez, a 25-year-old Antioch resident, was traveling eastbound on East 18th Street near Athens Lane about half a mile from his home when his vehicle drove onto the sidewalk and traveled about 100 feet, police reported.

When he re-entered the roadway, Martinez reportedly lost control of his vehicle, spun out and crashed into a Pacific Gas and Electric Co. power pole.

Martinez was taken to John Muir Medical Center in Walnut Creek with severe head injuries.

The crash briefly knocked out power to nearby residents, but an on-call PG&E crew was able to quickly restore power to the area, police reported.

San Carlos police arrest kidnapping and rape suspect

San Carlos police announced Sunday the arrest of a man suspected of kidnapping and rape in an isolated area in Redwood City on Friday morning.

A 31-year-old San Carlos woman told police she had been drinking at Clooney's Pub at 1189 Laurel St. in San Carlos. Shortly after passing out in the back of a taxicab, she was allegedly raped near Marshall and Chestnut streets, police said.

Jose Anenias Ramirez of Redwood City was arrested Saturday and charged with kidnapping, rape of an incapacitated person, false imprisonment and sexual battery. The 36-year-old suspect was booked without bail into the San Mateo County Jail.

Salinas man police reported as dead in critical condition

A Salinas man police previously reported had died after a San Jose shooting last week remains in critical condition, according to Sgt. Mike Sullivan.

Three people were injured when shots were fired at their vehicle around 2:20 p.m. on Feb. 17 on Monterey Road near Alma Avenue, Sullivan said. All three were transported to local hospitals.

On Friday, police reported that 27-year-old Luciano Saldena had died but said Sunday he is in critical condition and remains at the hospital.

--

Permalink

Copyright © 2008 by Bay City News, Inc. -- Republication, Rebroadcast or any other Reuse without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited.

####