Latest local news briefs include an upcoming July 4 DUI enforcement effort, a Citrus Heights planning commissioner confirming plans to run for school board, Councilman Bret Daniels announcing his latest bid for county sheriff, and the arrest of a man for allegedly attempting to murder his neighbor.
Citrus Heights councilman announces campaign for sheriff
It may be more than a year out from the 2018 election, but candidates are already busy preparing for a long campaign season. Councilman Bret Daniels officially announced Tuesday that he is running for Sacramento County Sheriff for the fifth time. In a short four-minute video posted on Daniels’ Facebook campaign page, the councilman thanked the small crowd of attendees for showing up at his campaign kick-off event in downtown Sacramento and highlighted news reports from last year where jurors found “a culture of retaliation and preferential treatment inside the Sacramento Sheriff’s Department.” Daniels said “it’s just time for it to end, and that’s what we’re about.” He also received an applause for saying he would reverse an increase in crime through “a greater police presence in your neighborhood, a better use of resources, and keeping dangerous criminals in jail where they belong to be.”
Daniels previously served as a Sacramento County sheriff’s deputy in the 1990’s but was fired in 2000, after the department said he lied during an internal affairs investigation relating to whether he accessed a law enforcement database for personal use. Daniels previously told The Sentinel he disputes the charges and believes the firing was “politically motivated” by then-Sheriff Lou Blanas. Two years prior to the firing, Daniels had run against Blanas for county sheriff. (Learn more about Daniels)
From 2016: Bret Daniels’ election to city council called ‘a shocker’ by Citrus Heights leaders
Citrus Heights planning commissioner confirms plan to run for school board
Tim Schaefer, who was appointed earlier this year to the Citrus Heights planning commission by Councilman Daniels, has confirmed plans to run for a seat on the five-member San Juan Unified School District governing board. Schaefer placed fifth in the local race for city council last year and had expressed concern during the campaign about poor ratings received by schools within Citrus Heights, citing data from www.school-ratings.com.
Schaefer’s intention to run for school board was made public in an update on his Facebook campaign page name, which was recently changed to “Tim Schaefer for San Juan Unified School Board.” He also confirmed his 2018 campaign plans with The Sentinel. The 56-year-old will seek to unseat one of two at-large board members who are up for election next year: Michael McKibbin and Greg Paulo. (Learn more about Schaefer)
Citrus Heights man, 33, arrested for attempted murder of neighbor
Citrus Heights police said a local man was arrested after allegedly shooting his neighbor in what authorities called an “ongoing neighbor dispute.” 33-year-old Hieu Thai Truong was arrested Wednesday after police said officers responded to a report of a shooting around 8:30 a.m. on the 7700 block of Poplar Lane, located off Antelope Road. After police moved the gunshot victim to safety, the suspect’s location was surrounded and he surrendered to officers.
Online inmate records from the Sacramento County Jail indicate Truong is charged with attempted murder and felony assault with a deadly weapon. He is ineligible for bail. Police said the man Truong is believed to have shot is expected to survive, but suffered a gunshot wound to his hand and leg.
CHPD: roving DUI patrols to hit streets on July 4
Citrus Heights police announced that officers from the department’s DUI Enforcement Team will be deployed on July 4 in an effort to “stop and arrest alcohol and drug-impaired drivers.” The department said in a news release last week that saturation patrols, roving patrol officers designated to target DUI drivers, will be deployed in areas of the city that have had higher frequencies of DUI collisions or arrests. Police cited national statistics from 2015 indicating that 49 percent of drivers age 18 to 34 who were killed on July 4 were driving with a blood alcohol level over the legal limit of .08 percent.
Also published on The Sentinel last week:
- Checkers: Local franchisee plans new burger drive-thru in Citrus Heights
- Community voices: readers react to plan for new barrier fence at Auburn/Greenback
- Citrus Heights PD announce arrest after violent attempted robbery at restaurant
