Sacto 9-1-1

An early morning traffic stop by a Rocklin police officer Wednesday led to the arrest of two people and the recovery of recently stolen catalytic converters.

About 2:50 a.m., the officer noticed a vehicle in the area of Stephanie and Wesley drives and stopped it for a vehicle code violation. While talking with the driver and passenger, the officer spotted inside the vehicle four catalytic converters and tools for removing converters, according to a Police Department news release.

Both occupants were arrested. They were identified as Huong Van Nguyen, 60, who is homeless, and Ton Saeteurn, 30, of Sacramento. They are accused of receiving stolen property, conspiracy and possession of burglary tools.

Three of the converter theft victims who live in Rocklin contacted the Police Department on Wednesday morning and the converters that had been recovered were subsequently matched to their vehicles, police said.

A man allegedly drew a gun on a towing yard employee to get his car out of storage and then went to a Roseville bar where he was arrested.

Roseville police said the man tried to pay his towing and storage fees at a Tahoe Avenue tow yard about 6:30 p.m. Friday with credit cards. However, the cards were declined.

Still wanting his car, the 21-year-old Rocklin man allegedly pointed at handgun at the towing yard employee and drove away in his vehicle.

About three hours later, Roseville police found the man in a bar on Pacific Street. He was arrested on suspicion of robbery and carjacking his own car.

Police also found the handgun believed to have been used in the crime hidden in a shed on Ash Street.

Rocklin police are alerting residents to a telephone scam targeting senior citizens in the community.

It typically begins with a telephone call made by someone pretending to be the senior citizen's grandson or granddaughter. The caller says he or she has encountered some sort of trouble while traveling abroad and asks the grandparent to wire money. The trouble typically involves having a wallet stolen, being arrested, being seriously ill or being involved in a traffic accident.

Police said the caller usually sounds believable and, in many cases, uses the names of all the parties involved.

In at least one case, police said, a victim wired money. In another case, an alert bank teller prevented the customer from losing $3,000 when he told the teller why he was withdrawing the money and the teller realized it was a scam. The customer made a few calls, and verified that his grandson was not traveling and had not been arrested.

A Rocklin middle school teacher pleaded not guilty Monday to supplying marijuana to minors.

Ian Runciman, 38, an eighth-grade math teacher at Granite Oaks Middle School, was booked into Placer County Jail on March 1.

Police said Runciman allegedly kept in touch with some of his former students after they transitioned to local high schools and supplied marijuana to them.

The crimes are suspected to have occurred at Runciman's Rocklin apartment and involved three to four male juveniles aged 15 to 17.

Police said there is no indication that any of his suspected crimes occurred on a school campus.

An Irvine man has been arrested in a mortgage fraud case involving properties in Rocklin and Roseville.

A federal grand jury in Sacramento returned a three-count indictment Thursday charging Alexander A. Romaniolis, 48, with mail fraud. The indictment was unsealed after his arrest today in Huntington Beach, according to a federal Department of Justice news release.

The indictment alleges that Romaniolis recruited five straw buyers to purchase eight residential properties in Rocklin, Roseville and San Clemente. He allegedly assisted the straw buyers in providing false information to lenders about their employment, income, assets and intent to occupy properties as primary residences. In most cases, authorities said, the straw buyers claimed to be executives of companies created and controlled by Romaniolis.

A Rocklin resident who noticed something amiss at his neighbor's house led police to arrest a man suspected of burglarizing at least two homes in the city this week.

Matthew Christopher Gonzales (pictured), 25, was arrested Tuesday afternoon after Rocklin police responded to a report of a residential burglary on Deer Run Court about 12:30 p.m.

When officers arrived, a witness told them that her father had noticed that the side door to their neighbor's garage had been broken open and heard noises coming from inside the neighbor's home, which he thought should have been vacant at the time.

Rocklin's police and fire departments will hold an orientation meeting for people interested in assisting the public safety agencies as volunteers.

Volunteers play a key role in helping the departments provide a high level of service to the community and undertake projects not otherwise feasible because of limited resources, according to a Police Department news release.

The Police Department has openings for volunteers in patrol, records and front counter clerical support, code enforcement and child safety education, including giving presentations at elementary schools. These functions require volunteers who are available during the day Monday through Friday.

Rocklin police have arrested two men in connection with car burglaries in the city.

About 5 a.m. Sunday, a resident of the 2900 block of Cameron Drive saw an individual break into his neighbor's vehicle, then drive off in a dark-colored van, according to a Police Department news release.

The witness immediately called police. Responding officers spotted a van matching the description given by the witness and stopped it. Inside the van, they found property later identified as belonging to Cameron Drive resident and two other Rocklin victims.

The occupants of the van, Luis Alejandro Sanchez Padilla, 24, and David Garcia, 19, both of Sacramento, were arrested. Both were booked into Placer County Jail on suspicion of burglary, possession of stolen property and conspiracy. Bail was set at $10,000.

A Rocklin middle school teacher is out on bail, following his arrest on suspicion of supplying marijuana and alcohol to minors.

Ian Runciman, 38, was booked on felony counts of supplying marijuana to minors and keeping a place where drugs are used. The eighth-grade math teacher at Granite Oaks Middle School also is accused of contributing to the delinquency of a minor.

Runciman was booked into Placer County Jail on Friday, after a parent complained to the school about the suspected criminal activity. Bail was set at $25,000. Runciman posted bail and was released over the weekend.

By Anita Creamer
acreamer@sacbee.com

A 38-year-old Rocklin middle school teacher was arrested Friday after a parent complained to a school resource officer that the teacher had allegedly given students marijuana and alcohol, authorities said.

The teacher, Ian Runciman, works as an eighth-grade math teacher at Granite Oaks Middle School. The alleged incidents occurred both on campus and at the teacher's Roseville apartment and involved several students, according to officials.

Runciman was arrested on suspicion of supplying marijuana to a juvenile and booked into Placer County Jail today.

Rocklin police continue the investigation and request that anyone with information call the department at (916) 625-5443.

Two women were arrested this morning, accused of several burglaries in Rocklin.

Jill Joyce Hanoum, 34, of North Highlands and Danielle Marie Zunino, 28, of Sacramento were taken into custody when police stopped their vehicle as it was leaving the area of an early morning theft.

The Rocklin Police Department's communications center received a call at 4 a.m. reporting that a resident of the Sunset Summit apartment complex at 2151 Sunset Blvd. had interrupted a theft of property from a vehicle. The person provided a description of the suspects and their vehicle, which was relayed to responding officers, according to a Police Department news release.

A trail of blood led Rocklin police officers to a robbery suspect at the Sunset Whitney Country Club Monday night.

Officers found smashed windows and a blood trail at the country club after receiving a call at 10:40 p.m. They followed the trail down a golf path and found the suspect under a walking bridge, according to a police report.

Travis Dandrea, 34, from Rocklin, was charged with burglary and vandalism and booked in the Placer County Jail. Dandrea had cuts on his hands when he was arrested, police said.

Security camera photos released to the media last week have led to a tip and then arrest of a man suspected of robbing two banks.

Last week, two U.S. Bank branches inside Safeway supermarkets were robbed. In both cases, the robber presented a note demanding money. He left with cash in both instances.

The robberies occurred Jan. 22 at the Safeway, 989 Sunrise Ave., and three days later at the Safeway at 9045 Woodcreek Oaks Blvd.

A Rocklin man was sentenced today to 10 years in prison for possessing child pornography.

U.S. District Judge Lawrence K. Karlton also sentenced John Patrick Frost, 28, to a lifetime of supervised release following his prison term, according to a federal Department of Justice news release.

Frost pleaded guilty in October to one count of possession of child pornography. According to court documents, on March 12, 2009, a photo-sharing website reported to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children Cybertipline that a user had posted child pornography to its page. Further investigation led to a Placer County residence where Frost spent time.

The president of Rocklin Junior Thunder Football and Cheer Association was arrested this morning, accused of embezzling from the organization.

Stephanie Ann Abercrombie, 41, (pictured) was booked into Placer County Jail on suspicion of burglary, embezzlement of more than $400 and forgery.

On Dec. 5, Rocklin police received a report alleging that Ambercrombie had embezzled funds that had been entrusted to her for the daily operations of the nonprofit youth sports organization. After several weeks of investigation it was determined that Abercrombie had embezzled more than $20,000 from the Rocklin Junior Thunder, according to a Police Department news release.

The Placer District Attorney's Office declined to offer any new details today related to the two Rocklin teen-age girls who were arrested on suspicion of drugging one of the girl's parents with a sleeping aid to gain access to the Internet.

"Because this is a juvenile matter, it would be inappropriate for us to comment at this time," Jeff Wilson, assistant district attorney, said via email.

The teens were booked into Placer County Juvenile Hall on New Year's Eve after the parents, reeling from unexplained hangover symptoms, first took a drug test, then called police, said Lt. Lon Milka, a spokesman for the Rocklin Police Department.

Rocklin police arrested four Stockton men on suspicion of stealing catalytic converters Sunday evening.

A victim leaving a movie at Century Theaters in Rocklin called 911 after seeing people run out from under his car in the theater parking lot as he started his car remotely.

The suspects fled in a vehicle that police pulled over on Highway 65. Officers found "burglary tools" and "about a dozen catalytic converters" in the car, according to a police news release.

Bee reporters answer questions about area crime news, trends and other issues.

QUESTION: What happened to the man who followed and beat up the old man in Rocklin because of road rage?
Submitted by: MM gramma, Rocklin

ANSWER: Zubin Dimitri Bogdanoff, 33, remains in Placer County Jail accused of beating an 83-year-old Rocklin man in an alleged road rage incident in November.

A Rocklin man who volunteered with a program that assists children in the court system has been sentenced to prison for possessing child pornography.

Donald G. Callahan, 63, was sentenced in Sacramento by U.S. District Judge Morrison C. England Jr. to eight years and one month in prison, followed by 10 years of supervised release, according to a federal Department of Justice news release. The judge also imposed a $15,000 fine.

According to court documents, in September 2011, law enforcement officers identified a computer at Callahan's home offering child pornography through an Internet file-sharing service. On Oct. 25, 2011, agents searched Callahan's home and seized his computer and several compact discs.

The computer contained approximately 898 image files and 536 video files showing the sexual exploitation of children. An additional 16 video files were on the compact discs. Officials said the collection included files showing molestation of infants and toddlers.

At the sentencing, the judge expressed concern that Callahan, given the crime to which he pleaded and his own history as a victim of sexual abuse, had been involved in the Court Appointed Special Advocate program, according to the news release. CASA volunteers work on behalf of children who are in the California court system, often as the result of being victims in child abuse and neglect cases.

The case resulted from an investigation by the Sacramento Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, a federally and state-funded task force managed by the Sacramento County Sheriff's Department with agents from federal, state and local agencies. The task force investigates online child exploitation crimes, including child pornography, enticement and sex trafficking.

A 24-year-old Rocklin man has been arrested in connection with the August robbery of a local restaurant.

Justin Zinman is being held in Placer County Jail in lieu of $50,000 bail, according to a Rocklin Police Department news release. Officials said he was arrested Dec. 15 on suspicion of robbing the El Mariachi Restaurant and on unrelated drug charges.

Police were called to the restaurant at 1240 Sunset Blvd. about 8:40 p.m. Aug. 15 regarding a report of an armed robbery that had just occurred. Officers were told that a white man believed to be in his 20s entered the business with a white handkerchief over his face. He reportedly showed the employee behind the counter a black handgun in his waistband and demanded money.

Two teenage girls in Placer County are in legal trouble after they allegedly used a drugged milkshake to knock out one of the girls' parents so they could access the Internet, Rocklin police said.

The teens were booked into Placer County Juvenile Hall on New Year's Eve after the parents, reeling from unexplained hangover symptoms, first took a drug test, then called police, said Lt. Lon Milka, a spokesman for the Rocklin Police Department.

The alleged drugging took place Friday evening at the home of a 15-year-old girl, Milka said. They believe her friend, a 16-year-old from Roseville, provided a prescription sleep aid.

Nearly 3,000 drivers were caught breaking cell phone rules during a crackdown in 37 police jurisdictions in and around Sacramento County.

"We are committed to saving lives on area roadways, and drivers should expect to continue to see officers enforcing cell phone driving laws time and time again," said state Office of Traffic Safety director Chris Murphy.

California was one of two states to receive grants for high-visibility law enforcement pilot programs to squelch motorists' hand-held cell phone use and texting. In addition to California, Delaware was selected to mount a pilot project.

The California program, dubbed "Phone in One Hand, Ticket in the Other," was conducted in eight counties with 3.8 million residents in an area ranging from Modesto to Marysville and Vallejo to South Lake Tahoe. The crackdown occurred from Nov. 30 to Dec. 9.

A traffic stop in Rocklin early this morning led to the arrest of two people after police reported finding burglary tools and evidence of identity theft in the vehicle.

Shortly after 4 a.m., officers stopped a vehicle in the area of Taylor Road and Interstate 80 for a vehicle code violation. The driver was identified as Larry Ledezma, 29, of Shingle Springs and the passenger as Krystin Gonzales, 22, of Lincoln. Both were found to be on searchable probation, according to a Police Department news release.

During a search of the inside of the car, officers found burglary tools and evidence of identity theft. Police are investigating possible identify theft involving victims from the Lincoln and Rocklin areas, officials said.

In the past five months, Placer County police and sheriff's department personnel have used a state grant to crack down on underage drinking.

A total of 27 citations have been issued for selling booze to minors. In addition, 15 people have been cited for buying alcohol for a minor.

The concerted effort to stem underage drinking was funded with a grant of about $100,000 from the state Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control.

The primary objective was to reduce youth access to alcohol, statistics showing that minors generally have a higher rate of drunken driving crashes than adults, stated an ABC press release.

Rocklin police have arrested two men in connection with vehicle burglaries at Sierra College and in the city of Lincoln.

Mark Dingman, 39, and Jordan Edwards, 29, both of Rocklin, were arrested today following an investigation of four separate auto burglaries reported Wednesday on the Sierra College campus.

Based on physical evidence and investigative leads, officers within hours obtained a search warrant for a residence in the 2300 block of South Whitney Boulevard in Rocklin. When they served the search warrant, officers found evidence from the Sierra College burglaries, according to a Police Department news release. Officials said the investigation also tied Edwards and Dingman to a vehicle burglary that had occurred earlier in the morning near Twelve Bridges and East Joiner Parkway in Lincoln.

The Placer County District Attorney's office has declined to file charges against Sierra College Associate Dean of Athletics Thomas Gang.

While Gang and the school have agreed to part ways, the terms of the agreement are still being worked out, said Sue Michaels, a spokeswoman for the community college.

Gang was arrested in August for felony domestic violence.

The DA's office said after reviewing the case there was "insufficient evidence to prove to a jury that a crime had been committed."

Gang previously faced accusations he assaulted and verbally abusing a Mendocino College security guard.

A private investigator hired by Mendocino College used video of the incident in concluding an assault did not take place. No charges were filed.

An Elk Grove man has been arrested by Rocklin police on suspicion of burglary after officers responded to a report of a prowler.

Kenneth Oryan Linden, 26, is suspected of taking items from several unlocked garages and storage sheds, according to a Police Department news release.

Officers received a report about 2:40 a.m. Thursday of a prowler in the 6400 block of Sonora Pass Way. The resident reported seeing a man in light-colored clothing walking in her interior courtyard.

A federal fugitive who had claimed that bombs were sent to residences in Rocklin and Auburn has pleaded guilty to making hoax bomb threats.

Stephen J. Isoczky Jr., 60, of Los Angeles pleaded guilty today in federal court in Sacramento to two counts of making bomb threats and a single count of lying to federal agents, according to a Department of Justice news release.

According to court documents, on Sept. 2, Isoczky contacted the national telephone network of the United States Postal Inspection Service claiming to be a concerned citizen alerting authorities to impending letter bombs. Isoczky claimed the bombs were going to be delivered shortly to a residence in Rocklin.

A small plane landed in the center divider of Highway 65 in Placer County today, according to the California Highway Patrol.

Nobody was injured when the plane landed about 10:30 a.m. along the lanes of Highway 65 just north of Blue Oaks Boulevard near Roseville.

Photo caption: John Mares of Redonda Beach landed his Beach Debonair on the northbound lane of Highway 65 near Sunset Blvd. in Placer Co. Wednesday morning. He said he had a problem with a fuel line and lost fuel to the engine. Photo by Lezlie Sterling / lsterling@sacbee.com

A Rocklin man pleaded guilty today in federal court in Sacramento to possessing child pornography.

John Patrick Frost Jr., 28, admitted to one count of possessing visual depictions of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct, according to a federal Department of Justice news release.

On March 12, 2009, a photo-sharing website reported to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children Cybertipline that a user had posted child pornography to their page, according to court documents. Further investigation led to a Placer County residence where Frost spent time.

Denis and Alina Bukhantsov, top photo, take a ride in a buggy in West Sacramento during their wedding on April 26, 2008 (Photo by Sacramento wedding photographer Sergey Bidun). Above, a recent photo of Grigoriy Bukhantsov, 19, was provided by a family friend.

The Sacramento County Coroner's Office has released the names of the three victims found slain in their Rancho Cordova duplex on Tuesday afternoon.

They are 23-year-old Alina Bukhantsov and her children, 3-year-old Emmanuela and 2-year-old Avenir.

PHOTO GALLERY: Mother, two children slain in Rancho Cordova home

Alina Bukhantsov's brother-in-law, 19-year-old Grigoriy Bukhantsov, is accused in the crime. He was arrested early this morning on suspicion of three counts of murder, according to the Sacramento County Sheriff's Department.

All three of the victims had injuries "consistent with sharp force trauma," said sheriff's Sgt. Jason Ramos. They were found dead in their De Soto Way duplex about 3:30 p.m. by the husband of the woman, who is also the father of the children.

It is his brother who is the suspect in the brutal killings.

A Sacramento man was arrested on suspicion of attempted carjacking and child endangerment in Rocklin Monday afternoon, after leaving a baby in a stalled vehicle in traffic on Sierra College Boulevard.

Alan W. Rose, 26, was booked into Placer County Jail. He reportedly was a passenger in a sedan at Sierra College and Ridge Park Drive, when he grabbed the keys from the ignition, causing the car to stall, and exited the car.

He left behind his girlfriend, the driver of the car, and their infant inside the car, according to Rocklin Police Lt. Lon Milka. Milka said the speed limit along that stretch is 50 miles per hour.

By Ed Fletcher
efletcher@sacbee.com

Rocklin Police arrested a 26-year-old Sacramento man who they believe Monday afternoon attempted to carjack two vehicles.

Officers responded at a report of an attempted carjacking at 3 p.m. Monday on Sierra College Boulevard near Ridge Park Drive.

A man in his 20s exited a stalled sedan on Sierra College Boulevard and attempted to stop two vehicles traveling on Sierra College and force the drivers out, according to the department press release.

After his attempts were unsuccessful, the man fled on foot, after throwing the keys to the vehicle he was initially driving. Officers arrived and arrested Alan W. Rosa, 26, of Sacramento in a nearby field.

The Rocklin Police Department and Sierra College Auto Club will team up to offer free catalytic converter etching Nov. 3.

The event will be held from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the auto shop on the Sierra College campus, 5000 Rocklin Road, Rocklin.

Participants' vehicle license plate number will be etched on the converter and the etching painted for easy recognition. Each vehicle also will receive a small window decal indicating "This vehicle's catalytic converter has been etched by Rocklin PD" This can deter criminals and provide police with investigative tools to identify victims and arrest thieves, according to a Police Department news release.

A 33-year-old high school teacher was arrested by the Rocklin Police Department on Monday and is being held on suspicion of having an "unlawful intimate relationship" with a 17-year-old female student.

Matthew Yamamoto, a Whitney High School physics teacher, remain in Placer County jail pending $100,000 bail, said Lt. Lon Milka, a spokesman for the department.

He faces charges for child molestation and for arranging for a meeting with a minor for purposes of committing a lewd act.

Milka said the department received a call from a parent suspecting an inappropriate relationship on Saturday. Detectives were able to confirm enough facts to make an arrest, Milka said. He said the relationship was sexual in nature and had been going on for a couple months.

Milka said they are looking into whether there are any other victims.

Yamamoto lives in Rocklin.

Rocklin police today announced two more arrests in last week's armed robbery of a Dollar Tree store.

Tanya Starks, 31, was arrested at her Del Paso Heights home and Tisha Prout, 32, of Roseville, was arrested in Wyoming.

Authorities said Prout left California shortly after the robbery and was arrested after stepping off a Greyhound bus in Newcastle, Wyo. Police said she is in custody in Wyoming awaiting extradition to Placer County.

Five Sacramentans were arrested Wednesday night on suspicion of armed robbery following two reported events in Placer County, Sheriff Edward N. Bonner said in a press release today. Three of the suspects are juveniles.

Bonner said the effort was the work of a collaboration of multiple local law enforcement agencies,

Around 10:40 p.m., the Placer County sheriff's 911 dispatch received a call from a clerk working at the Comfort Inn on Auburn Ravine Road, the release said. The female clerk said four men entered the lobby wearing masks and gloves and robbed her at gunpoint. The release said one of the men broke a telephone in the lobby.

Three women have been arrested and two other suspects are sought in connection with last week's armed robbery of a Dollar Tree store in Rocklin.

Several anonymous tips from the public, as well as cell phone records and a parking surveillance video, led to the arrests, according to a Rocklin Police Department news release.

Loriann Prout, 27, and Victoria Micheels, 32, both of Roseville, and Enery Toro, 22, of Rocklin were booked into Placer County Jail today. They are accused of robbery, false imprisonment, assault and conspiracy. Each is being held in lieu of $200,000 bail.

Two men were arraigned today in Placer County Superior Court, accused of burglarizing high-end electronics retailers in five Bay Area counties, then selling the merchandise on an online auction website.

Justin Mahlet, 37, of Sacramento and Jason Tate, 41, of Rocklin were arraigned on 17 felony counts of burglary that resulted in losses of $400,000 in stolen goods and property damage, according to a news release from the California Attorney General's Office. Both men pleaded not guilty.

Mahlet and Tate turned themselves in in July and were released on bail set at $105,000 and $50,00 respectively.

Placer County residents who want an inside look at their sheriff's department can sign up for the Community Awareness Academy.

Topics include air operations, search and rescue, bomb squad, the Special Enforcement Team, the boat unit, investigations, hostage negotiators, the canine unit and the drug task force.

Field trips are planned to the jail and morgue, the dispatch center and the air operations hangar.

The Placer County Sheriff's Department has received a grant to help combat underage drinking and alcohol sales to minors during the coming year.

The Auburn, Lincoln, Rocklin and Roseville police departments also will participate in activities funded by the $99,760 grant from the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control, according to a Sheriff's Department news release.

Throughout the year, the Sheriff's Department plans to target problematic ABC-licensed establishments that sell alcoholic beverages to minors and obviously intoxicated adult patrons. Minor-decoy and "shoulder-tap" operations also will be conducted countywide to minimize minors' access to alcohol, officials said.

The Rocklin Police Department seeks to identify three women who were involved in the armed robbery of a Dollar Tree store Monday night.

Police were called to the store at 6655 Lonetree Blvd. at 9:21 p.m. The victims reported that three women entered the store just before closing time.

One of the women, brandishing a silver handgun, grabbed a male employee an pulled him to the ground while holding the pistol with her other hand, according to a Police Department news release. The other two suspects held the male employee down while the suspect with the firearm ordered another employee to open the register drawers.

By Ravali Reddy
rreddy@sacbee.com

The Rocklin Police Department is currently investigating three incidents from Friday and Saturday in which shots were fired.

At approximately 2:00 a.m. on Friday, police responded to calls reporting the sound of shots being fired near Sunset Blvd. and Fairway Drive. Within minutes, officers received another call alerting them to a vehicle that had been shot by a passing car at Stanford Ranch Road and Park Drive.

The vehicle that was shot had a single bullet hole near the driver's side door. Neither the passenger nor the driver were injured in the shooting. The victims were able to describe the suspect vehicle as a dark colored Ford Crown Victoria, or similar type vehicle.

Most road construction work that could interfere with traffic on Interstate 80 will be put off during "Hot August Night" events in Reno.

Hot August Nights, the annual celebration of cars and cruising, begins today and gets into full gear late next week. Caltrans announced that most traffic-interfering work will be limited on the highway today through Aug. 13.

Motorists are advised a construction zone narrows lanes on I-80 from Emigrant Gap to Rainbow. Beware, warns Caltrans, the construction zone has a maximum speed of 55 mph and no passing is allowed.

California Highway Patrol officers will be on duty with increased enforcement in that stretch of freeway.

Sierra College Athletic Director Tom Gang, 45, was arrested Tuesday on suspicion of committing three acts of felony domestic violence.

Gang, who has been placed on administrative leave from his job, was arrested at his Auburn residence early Tuesday and booked on assault with a deadly weapon, inflicting corporal injury and false imprisonment, according to Placer County jail's online booking sheet.

He was released on $75,000 bail, said a spokeswoman for the Placer County Sherriff's Department.

Gang joined the Sierra College staff in 2011, replacing John Volek as associate dean of athletics at the Rocklin campus.

By Ed Fletcher

eflecther@sacbee.com

The friends and family of a recent high school graduate from Rocklin who died in a motorcycle accident over the weekend will honor his memory with a candle light vigil Monday evening.

The candle lighting for Thomas Christian Daniels, 18, is set to start at 8:30 p.m. at Whitney High School in Rocklin, where he was a standout football player.

Daniels died after crashing his 2005 Honda motorcycle on Saturday evening. The accident occurred at 6:20 p.m. as Daniels was traveling west on Highway 193 near Newcastle. He crossed the double yellow line to pass another vehicle and struck at 2009 Dodge Ram pickup head on, said Nico Bonfilio of the California Highway Patrol.

He said speed was a factor in the accident, but the full accident report was not yet available.

Friends have created a Facebook page to honor his memory. Numerous friends wrote about his infectious smile, his good cheer and his workman-like attitude on the football field.

A report of man firing a gun in front of a Rocklin home this evening drew SWAT officers but ended peacefully with no arrests or injuries.

Rocklin Police Lt. Lon Milka said the gun proved to be a pellet gun.

Milka said officers were called to the 2200 block of Quarry Way at 5:30 p.m. They were told that a man had walked into the front yard of his home and fired a shotgun or rifle, then walked back into the house.

The Rocklin Police Department reports that an explosive device found this morning in a parking lot has been safely removed by bomb technicians.

Police received a call this morning from an individual who reported seeing a device resembling a homemade pipe bomb in the parking lot behind the Bank of America and the Arco AM/PM gas station at Sunset Boulevard and Park Drive. Officers roped off an area a safe distance around the device until bomb technicians could respond. Residents in the area of the parking lot were asked to stay inside and away from windows that faced the lot.

Officers with the regional Explosive Ordnance Disposal Unit neutralized the device at the site, then removed it for forensic examination at the crime lab, a Police Department news release states. Police are conducting a criminal investigation into the origin and placement of the device.

A Rocklin man pleaded guilty today in federal court in Sacramento to possession of child pornography.

According to the plea agreement filed in the case, law enforcement officers in September 2011 identified a computer at the home of Donald G. Callahan, 62, offering child pornography through an Internet file-sharing service. On Oct. 25, agents searched his home and seized his computer and several compact discs.

The computer contained approximately 898 image files and 536 video files showing the sexual exploitation of children, according to a federal Department of Justice news release. On the compact discs were an additional 16 video files.

By Debbie Arrington
darrington@sacbee.com

Just as many weekend travelers were returning home Sunday night, a major accident closed Interstate 80 in both directions just west of Rocklin Road.

According to the California Highway Patrol, an eastbound vehicle went over the center divider into westbound lanes shortly after 8:30 p.m. At least three vehicles were involved in the wreck, including one rollover.

The CHP issued a Sigalert as traffic came to a complete halt in both directions for more than a half hour. By 9:05 p.m., one lane of westbound traffic was reopened. All but one of the eastbound lanes also were reopened to traffic. The Rocklin Road on-ramp to westbound I-80 was closed as CHP officers investigated.

A fire in south Placer County has been contained after burning 184 acres west of Roseville.

Daniel Berlant, a spokesman for the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection said the fire was reported at 1:23 p.m., burning in a flat, undeveloped area of grasslands in the area of Fiddyment Road and Athens Avenue.

Thirteen fire engines, two water tenders and a bulldozer responded to the scene. Berlant said Cal Fire and the South Placer County firefighters were assisted by firefighters from Roseville, Rocklin and Lincoln.

Although the cause of the fire has not been determined, he said this is a reminder to residents to use caution in outdoor activities, especially given the forecast for strong winds and temperatures in the 100-degree range this weekend.

Rocklin residents will have an opportunity to talk with members of the city's Police Department during three "Chat with the Chief" meetings.

The meetings are intended to provide valuable information to residents, promote new police programs and foster communication with people in the community, according to at Police Department news release.

All three meetings will be identical in content, featuring presentations and question-and-answer sessions led by Police Chief Ron Lawrence, Deputy Chief Dan Ruden and other police managers. During the sessions, the chief and his staff will solicit public comment on designing the the Police Department's strategic plan for fiscal year 2012-13, discuss the department's 2011 Annual Report, provide an overview of new police technology and offer strategies for reducing residential burglaries.

A resident of Cool died last night when his car ran off the road and hit a tree along Interstate 80 in Placer County.

Robert H. Atteberry, 66, was driving his sport utility vehicle westbound on I-80 near Rocklin Road about 8 p.m. when for unknown reasons his SUV swerved to the right, according to a press release from the California Highway Patrol.

His SUV then hit a large oak tree along the highway. Atteberry, who was wearing a seatbelt at the time of the crash, died at the scene.

A 72-year-old man was arrested Tuesday morning, accused of lewd conduct in a Sierra Community College restroom.

About 11:15 a.m., Rocklin police youth services officers assigned full-time to the campus were notified that a man was using a mirror to look at another person while using the public restroom inside the college library, according to a Rocklin Police Department news release. The victim reported that while using the restroom, he saw a person in the stall next to him use a mirror to look at him.

Officers arrested Donald Jackson of Rocklin, who is not a student at the college. He was booked into Placer County Jail on suspicion of engaging in a lewd act in public; loitering in or around a public toilet for the purpose of engaging in or soliciting a lewd, lascivious or unlawful act; and using an instrument to view a person with the intent to invade the person's privacy.

Anyone with information regarding this or related incidents is asked to call the Rocklin Police Department at (916) 625-5400.

Rocklin police executed search warrants over the weekend that resulted in the arrests of two teenagers for burglary.

Officers served the warrants at two residences in the city on Saturday. The warrants stemmed from an investigation that began Feb. 26 when a home was burglarized on Ashland Court.

Both boys, ages 13 and 15, were booked into Placer County Juvenile Hall on suspicion of burglary and conspiracy. Officers recovered electronic items during the searches.

The investigation continues for more suspects and stolen property.

By Ed Fletcher

efletcher@sacbee.com

The Roseville Police Department arrested a group of five teens and young adults Monday for a string of incidents in west Roseville, including an armed robbery and a residential burglary.

The two young adults, Jerome J. Said, 21, and Ronald James Williams, 19, both of Sacramento, were arrested for suspicion of robbery, burglary, and related charges.

A 17-year-old male and a 14-year-old male, both from Citrus Heights, and a 17-year-old girl from Antelope were also arrested and taken to Placer County Juvenile Hall.

The sting of alleged incidents began 11:22 a.m. Monday with a report of teens running from a burglarized home on Donnelly Court. Soon thereafter, a group of youth confronted a 14-year-old boy on Junction Bloulevard at Country Club Drive, striking him and forcibly taking his iPod.

Later, a 14-year-old girl reported that she was being followed by a group of older teens. The girl used her cellphone to call her mother, who called the police. The girl was unharmed.

Police officers contacted Said, Williams and the teens near Woodcreek Oaks and Junction boulevards at about 12:38 p.m. Monday and arrested without incident. Bail for Said was set at $110,000.

Williams, who was also wanted on a warrant for attempted murder in Sacramento County, was not granted bail.

Rocklin police have arrested a Sacramento man in connection with a December home burglary.

The break-in at a residence in the El Don Estates area was reported Dec. 9. Officers found several items of physical evidence that the department's evidence lab technicians tied to David Alan Foster (pictured), 24. He was arrested Wednesday on suspicion of burglary as well as a Plumas County warrant for violation of probation, according to a Police Department news release.

Foster is being held in Placer County Jail on $30,000 bail.

Reflecting the level of public concern about the rash of catalytic converter thefts, openings for the Rocklin Police Department's "Etch & Catch" event were filled within 24 hours after sign-ups began.

Police reported that they received more than 150 calls from interested people within the first 24 hours of announcing the Feb. 11 event. All 80 appointments have been filled. Drive-up participants will be accepted the day of the event, but only on a first-come, first-served basis if time and space allow, according to a Police Department news release.

The free etching event is scheduled from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Les Schwab Tires, 5610 Pacific St., Rocklin. Vehicle license plate numbers will be etched onto catalytic converters to aid police in identifying victims and prosecuting criminals in case of theft.

In response to a rash of catalytic converter thefts in south Placer County, the Rocklin Police Department, in cooperation with local businesses and organizations, has scheduled a free catalytic converter etching event Feb. 11.

In the first three weeks of this year, Rocklin police received 29 reports of catalytic converter thefts. Although some arrests have been made, such thefts continue to occur, according to a Police Department news release.

Catalytic converters, along with copper and other metals, have become a hot commodity among thieves. The catalytic converters are targeted because of their value, the relative ease of stealing them and their lack of identifying markings, police said. The lack of identification makes it difficult to identify victims and to successfully apprehend and prosecute criminals.

Rocklin police announced this afternoon that Rocklin resident Todd Dettner (pictured), who was reported missing Monday, has been located.

Police Tuesday evening requested the community's help finding Dettner, 47, who had not been seen since leaving his home Monday for his workplace in Citrus Heights.

The Rocklin Police Department seeks the public's help locating a 47-year-old man.

Police said Todd Dettner (pictured), 47, was last seen Monday when he left is Rocklin home for his workplace in Citrus Heights. He was driving a white 2010 Ford Taurus with California license plate 6LVT082.

Anyone with information regarding Dettner's whereabouts is asked to call 911 or the Rocklin Police Department at (916) 625-5400.

Planning a copper heist? Then it's a good idea to obey traffic laws during the getaway.

Rocklin police say they stopped a car shortly after 4:30 a.m. today on Pacific Street near Sunset Boulevard after seeing the driver commit an unspecified traffic violation.

Both the driver and his passenger were found to be on probation. In a search of the car, police found three copper water backflow devices, the department reported.

Police in Rocklin and Folsom are warning residents to take steps to protect their vehicles following a rash of catalytic converter thefts in recent days.

Rocklin police reported that at least 10 Toyota owners were victimized Tuesday night or early this morning. Hardest hit was the Pinnacles Drive area near South Whitney Boulevard, according to a Police Department news release.

In Folsom, police reported that 13 catalytic converters were stolen throughout the city Friday morning. All the targeted vehicles were Toyota trucks or sport utility vehicles.

Between them, two men are suspected of committing a wide variety of crimes on Sunday, Rocklin police said.

Included in the crimes the pair are suspected of committing: possible shoplifting, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of a sawed-off shotgun and the theft of a classic car.

Police said the arrests began with a simple shoplifting call about 3 p.m. Sunday at the Kmart store, 5615 Pacific Street. The man suspected by store security had fled when officers arrived.

Rocklin police have issued a residential burglary alert, citing 60 residential burglaries in the city during the 120-day period from Sept. 1 through Dec. 31.

Neighboring communities of Granite Bay and Loomis, as well as the cities of Folsom and Citrus Heights, also have seen an increase in burglaries involving similar methods such a as front doors kicked open and smashed rear sliding doors. In Granite Bay, 28 door-kick entries are being investigated, according to a Rocklin Police Department news release.

Officials urge residents to be alert to suspicious people and vehicles in neighborhoods. Anyone who observes suspicious activity of a crime in progress is advised to immediately call 911 or the Police Department's non-emergency line, (916) 625-5400.

Anyone with information about the burglaries or other crimes may call Michael Nottoli at (916) 625-5416. To remain anonymous, call the Placer County Crime Stoppers hotline at (800) 923-8191, or access the Tip 411 Program by logging onto www.rocklinpd.com and clicking on "Submit a Tip." Tipsters also may text the keyword ROCKLIN, followed by the tip information to 847411.

A 52-year-old Rocklin man has been arrested on child pornography charges.

A federal grand jury last week returned a four-count indictment charging Barry C. Steiber with sharing, receipt and possession of child pornography, according to a Department of Justice news release.

According to the indictment, in 2008 and 2009 Steiber amassed a collection of images depicting the sexual exploitation of children and traded those images with other people over the Internet. Court documents indicate that a computer recovered from his home in 2009 contained thousands of images of child pornography.

By Carlos Alcala

calcala@sacbee.com

A man was struck and killed while running on eastbound Interestate 80 in Loomis late Friday, Placer County Sheriff's officials reported.

A call came in one minute before midnight, said Sgt. Kurt Walker.

Witnesses said a male had been running between cars on the freeway just east of Horseshoe Bar Road before he was struck by multiple vehicles.

The trauma was so severe that age and ethnicity are unknown, and the man's identity has not been positively determined, Walker said.

A cat burglar entered a home and took the possessions of sleeping Rocklin residents this morning.

The burglar removed a screen and opened a window at the rear of a house in the 5200 block of Water Lily Lane between 12:30 a.m. and 9 a.m. today. Once inside, the burglar took several items while residents slept and then the thief left without being detected.

The thief may have entered the back yard by climbing a fence, Rocklin police said. The burglary was the second in the area since late November of an occupied dwelling, police said.

A large home in Placer County suffered heavy damage in an early morning fire.

A 911 call about 1:30 p.m. Monday alerted Cal Fire firefighters to the blaze at an approximately 3,500-square-foot house in the 3400 block of Amoruso Way. Firefighters could see flames light up the night sky as they left the firehouse near the Thunder Valley Casino.

Firefighters managed to save about 1,200-square-feet of the structure, which was well-involved in fire when engines arrived. Residents were not home when fire erupted, a Cal Fire spokeswoman said.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

A 49-year-old Rocklin woman was arrested Sunday after she allegedly robbed a local craft store.

Donna Marie Clayton was charged with robbery and resisting arrest after being picked up by Rocklin police at about 1:53 p.m. Sunday.

The incident began with a call to police from the Beads and Treasures store at 3101 Sunset Boulevard, authorities said.

The officer arrived and witnessed a woman matching the suspect description walking near the store, police said. The woman fled when approached by the officer and resisted arrest.

Once handcuffed, she was identified as the robber by a store employee, police said.

Rocklin police are trying to determine whether a man arrested earlier this week is connected with recent burglaries in the area.

On Monday, Rocklin detectives, with the assistance of the Sacramento County Sheriff's Department, arrested Tomas Gabriel Rios (pictured), 23, of Sacramento following a vehicle stop in Sacramento County.

Detectives recently had contacted Rios and found him to possess several items of suspected stolen property. An ongoing investigation led to the identification of several pieces of stolen property, including a police Taser and items from two residential burglaries in Sacramento and Placer counties, according to a Rocklin Police Department news release. Several dozen pieces of jewelry suspected of being stolen also were found in Rios' possession, police said.

Three people suspected of involvement in a counterfeiting ring were arrested early this morning in Rocklin.

Rocklin Police Lt. Terry Roide said the department has handled more than 20 counterfeit check cases in the last three months, and neighboring jurisdictions have been affected as well. Rocklin investigators have been working with the Sacramento Valley High Technology Task Force to identify individuals in what Roide characterized as a large-scale counterfeit operation.

In most cases, he said, the counterfeiters appear to have approached someone on the street and quickly prepared a counterfeit check for the individual to cash. Many of the checks were for business accounts and written for typical of those for payroll checks.

Two people whose car was stopped for vehicle code violations in Rocklin early Saturday morning ended up being arrested in connection with a vehicle burglary that occurred a few days earlier.

A Rocklin police officer on routine patrol about 4:30 a.m. stopped a sedan after observing several vehicle code violations. The officer found a driver's license and credit card inside the driver's purse that did not match the name of the driver, according to a Police Department news release. The officer determined that the license and credit card had been stolen earlier in the week from a car in the parking lot of California Family Fitness in Rocklin.

Ryann Michele Heasley, 28, of Roseville, and Robert Paul Mehall, 43, of Auburn, were arrested on suspicion of possessing stolen property, possessing burglary tools and conspiracy. Both were booked into Placer County Jail.

A body was found Tuesday morning in Rocklin after fire crews extinguished a burning sport utility vehicle. Rocklin Police are investigating the death as suspicious, according to a department news release.

Dispatchers received a report of the SUV on fire about 10:40 a.m. today on West Oaks Boulevard near Lonetree Boulevard.

Firefighters put out the flames in the passenger compartment of the SUV.

By Anita Creamer
acreamer@sacbee.com

Rocklin police arrested four people this morning in connection with a string of thefts at the California Family Fitness on Sunset Boulevard in Rocklin.

Three of the suspects were arrested in a car in the gym's parking lot, authorities said. The fourth fled but was arrested after a foot chase.

Arrested were Tiffany Bruner, 20, of Sacramento, Diana Melnichuk, 19, of Sacramento, Maksim Mshchenko, 21, of Sacramento and Sergey Stepanyuk, 23, of Rancho Cordova.

Officers recovered a number of stolen items as well as narcotics, police officials said.

It was with mixed feelings of pride and loss that George Smith learned that his son was awarded a Carnegie medal for extraordinary heroism.

It became official Tuesday that his son Nathan was the recipient of the honor. He was one of two residents of the Sacramento region who were awarded Carnegie medals for extraordinary acts of heroism.

One award went to Cameron C. Gilbert, a resident of Cool, for pushing away an attacker who stabbed another student at Sierra College. The other medal was awarded posthumously to Nathan N. Smith of Citrus Heights, who died trying to save his brother, Noel B. Smith, who also died, after falling through an ice-covered lake in Shasta County.

By Ed Fletcher
efletcher@sacbee.com

Rocklin Police announced Monday three suspects believed to be involved in knocking out 20 city light poles are in custody.

Darrell Allen Cooper, 41, and Justin Bryan Liddell, 32, both from Roseville, were arrested Sunday by Placer County sheriff deputies. The deputies noticed the men had a large amount of copper wiring in the bed of their pickup truck and notified surrounding agencies, including the Rocklin police.

A Roseville man was identified as the motorcyclist who crashed after a police chase last night.

The California Highway Patrol said that Erick Von Schelske, 42, died at the scene on Stanford Ranch Road when his motorcycle hit a tree.

A CHP press release said that at about 10 p.m. Wednesday night an oficer saw a motorcyclist traveling at a high rate of speed on Galleria Boulevard. The officer tried to pull him over, but the motorcyclist sped away, according to the CHP.

Schelske lost control and his motorcycle struck a tree in the center divider of Stanford Ranch Road, south of Cobblestone Drive, in Rocklin. Stanford Ranch Road was closed for about 5 hours for the crash investigation.

The name of a man who died after being hit by a recreational vehicle Monday on Highway 65 has been released by the Placer County Sheriff's Department.

He was identified as Jay Roberson, 46, of Sacramento.

Details of how Roberson ended up in the traffic lanes of Highway 65 near Sunset Boulevard in Rocklin were not available.

Southbound traffic was temporarily halted while the body was removed from beneath the RV. Roberson's vehicle was found with its hood up along the side of the road.

By Dale Kasler
dkasler@sacbee.com

A man was struck and killed by a recreational vehicle this afternoon on Highway 65 near Sunset Boulevard in Rocklin.

Sgt. Jeff Swearingen of the Placer County Sheriff's department said the man might have encountered trouble with his vehicle, which was found with the hood up along the side of the road.

The Placer County District Attorney's Office has concluded that an off-duty sheriff's deputy did not commit a crime when he intercepted and shot a man who was being chased by Rocklin police.

The District Attorney's Office announced today that it has completed its review of the May 29 shooting of Sergey Pautov, 22 of Rancho Cordova, by Placer County Sheriff's Sgt. Vaness Bogardus. The review was based on information provided in Rocklin and Roseville police department reports, as well as an analysis of California law, according to a District Attorney's Office news release.

These materials established that officers, including Sgt. Bogardus, were advised that Pautov was a suspect who was wanted for a recent burglary and auto theft. Sgt. Bogardus and other officers were also aware that Pautov had been evading capture while driving a stolen vehicle in a reckless manner that endangered the public, including twice driving on the wrong side of the road, officials said. Pautov eventually abandoned the vehicle and began to run away.

Rocklin police today need help in finding for three young men who were seen fleeing from the site of a playground structure fire.

Rocklin police and the Rocklin Fire Department were called about 3 a.m. Sunday to a playground at Sunset East Park on Willowynd Drive. A witness reported seeing three white males in their late teens or early 20s fleeing the area around the time of the fire.

The suspects were dressed in t-shirts and shorts. They were seen getting into a dark green, late 1990s compact car.

The park playground equipment sustained more than $6,000 in damage. Anyone with information is asked to call Rocklin police at (916) 625-5400.

Two Sacramento region CHP airborne officers have been recognized for outstanding work.

Pilot Jeff Barbao and flight officer Jonathon Pierce have won the fixed wing operator of the year award sponsored by aircraft-maker GippsAero for the impact of their work.

Barbao and Pierce are assigned to the CHP Valley Division air unit based in Auburn. The division covers an area 160 miles in length and 130 miles wide, including Sacramento, Stockton and South Lake Tahoe.

Rocklin police are investigating a stabbing Friday that appears to have had no clear motive.

Police were called to the 5400 block of South Grove Street and found a woman who said she was attacked while in the parking area of an apartment complex.

She was transported to a hospital for treatment, but police had no information on the extent of her injuries or whether she was released.

The suspect was described as a Hispanic male, 5 feet 9 inches tall, with short hair and dark clothing.

Police were unable to locate the suspect in the complex.

Officials did not speculate on the motive and did not indicate what kind of weapon was used to stab the victim.

Traffic is slow on eastbound Interstate 80 near Newcastle after a pick-up truck towing a trailer crashed, spilling debris.

The pickup was traveling eastbound between Penryn and Newcastle at the Gilardi Road overcrossing about 4 a.m. when the driver lost control and hit a guardrail and bridge abutment.

The two slower lanes of the interstate were initially blocked. The slow lane is still blocked and may stay that way for most of the day to repair guardrail damage, according to a California Highway Patrol traffic website.

The crash damaged about 100 feet of guardrail. The driver was transported to a hospital with minor injuries.

Rocklin police are investigating a robbery today at Jasmine's Donuts.

Investigators said the suspect wore a blue bandana over his face and carried a black semi-automatic handgun when he entered the Sunset Boulevard doughnut shop around 8:22 a.m. The suspect demanded money, pushed the clerk and grabbed cash from the register, the police said in a press release.

Police described the suspect as a 6-foot black man with a slim build in his early 20s and wearing a hooded sweatshirt. They say he also tried to rob a customer who didn't have any money.

The Rocklin Police Department is heading into the city's neighborhoods Aug. 2 to celebrate the 28th annual National Night Out.

The department, along with fire department staff, city staff and city council members, is taking part in the national program that aims to increase awareness about crime prevention, support local crime prevention programs, and build partnerships among police departments and the communities they serve.

A 21-year-old Rocklin woman suffered major injuries Sunday night when her vehicle struck the concrete center median barrier on Interstate 80.

Hillary Cantrell was driving a white Chevy Silverado on westbound I-80, east of the Gilardi Road overcrossing northeast of Loomis about 10:55 p.m. She was traveling in the fast lane, when she made an unsafe turning movement, causing her vehicle to hit the median barrier, according to a California Highway Patrol news release. The impact caused the vehicle to overturn several times, ejecting Cantrell into the roadway.

She was airlifted to Sutter Roseville Medical Center by a CHP helicopter. A hospital spokeswoman said today that she is in critical condition.