Sacto 9-1-1

By Hudson Sangree
hsangree@sacbee.com

An investigation by the Yolo County Sheriff's Department has concluded that no deputy ever held a gun to the head of a 9-year-old Dunnigan girl, as she and her parents alleged, authorities announced today.

In February, the girl and her parents, Santiago Ochoa and Griselda Rodriguez, told a citizens panel and reporters that officers executing a search warrant on their home in June 2009 had grabbed the girl by the neck and stuck a gun to the girl's temple.

Sheriff Ed Prieto launched an investigation, though the family had filed no written complaint with his office, saying he was skeptical of the girl's claim but intended to take it seriously.

Capt. Rich Williams, who led the investigation, said Wednesday he had interviewed all the law enforcement officers from different agencies who had been at the scene as well as the girl and her family.

"The investigation and evidence revealed the allegations were unfounded," he said. He said he could not discuss details of the confidential personnel investigation.

The family's claims first came to light a hearing of the Independent Civil Rights Commission, a self-appointed panel of lawyers and activists led by former state Supreme Court Justice Cruz Reynoso.

The panel was formed in response to the killing of Woodland farmworker Luis Gutierrez by members of the county's anti-gang squad.

Officers from the gang unit were among those who stormed his home in June, Santiago Ochoa said, while executing a search warrant for his son, who was later exonerated of gang charges at trial.

Call The Bee's Hudson Sangree, (916) 321-1191.

Previous coverage:

Sheriff's probe: Did Yolo deputies put a gun to a child's head? - Feb. 24, 2010

Panel begins hearings into alleged civil rights abuses in Yolo County - Feb. 22, 2010

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About Sacto 9-1-1

Sacto 9-1-1 is a blog on crime and emergency services news in the Sacramento region.

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Sacto 9-1-1 Q&A

Q: What happened with the case regarding Marc McCormick? He was accused of videotaping a woman in her home and was arrested. He lives in my neighborhood and I see him all the time. Were charges dropped?


A: According to Sacramento Superior Court online records, misdemeanor charges have been filed against Mark William McCormick, alleging that he used a camcorder or other instrument to view an individual in a place where there was an expectation of privacy, trespassing and peeping.

His next court date is June 4.

According to Sacramento police logs, McCormick, 40, was arrested March 8 after the victim reported that a friend had entered her home without her knowledge to secretly videotape her.


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