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Police surround Citrus Heights home after shots fired; warrant sought

Reports of shots fired Wednesday night at a Citrus Heights residence led to a heavy police response and helicopter activity near Brooktree Park, police confirmed Thursday morning.

Sgt. Jason Baldwin said police surrounded a home on the 6900 block of Brookcrest Way after responding officers “heard additional gun shots and saw what they believed to be muzzle flashes inside the residence.” He said the home was surrounded for several hours, but officers were eventually called off around midnight after making contact with a man inside and concluding that he “may be living with a mental illness.”

“Once we determined the subject was alone, that the house was empty with the exception of the subject, and that there was no public at risk, we pulled back from the location and are seeking a warrant through the district attorney’s office,” the sergeant said. He confirmed that an officer was also left in the area “for emergency purposes, should they be needed.”

Baldwin said the investigation is ongoing, but said no threats to the public were made and officers do not believe there is a risk to the public at-large. He also confirmed no one was injured and said there are no outstanding subjects being sought.

“If somebody is… a danger to themselves in their own house, that doesn’t mean that the police department must go in there,” Baldwin said, explaining why officers chose not the enter the residence. “If he’s a danger to himself in his own house, many times law enforcement are not going to risk their own lives for someone who is a danger to himself or potentially escalate the situation into a deadly force incident.”

Update: police obtain warrant, arrest man after shots fired in Citrus Heights home

Asked what future steps will be taken, Baldwin said if a warrant is issued, officers will “seek to somehow serve the warrant in a peaceful manner.” The department will also continue to “investigate any possible crime” involved.

Brooktree Park is located in the southern area of Citrus Heights, about a half-mile away from Greenback Lane and Dewey Drive.

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March 30, 2017
Police: woman likely committed suicide in car outside Target store

File photo, Target. Police said a 37-year-old woman is believed to have committed suicide outside the Citrus Heights Target store on Tuesday. // CH Sentinel

Updated July 30, 11:10 p.m.–
Citrus Heights police said a missing 37-year-old woman was found dead in a car outside the Sunrise Boulevard Target store, Tuesday.

On Wednesday, Officer Anthony Boehle confirmed police believe the woman’s death was a case of suicide. He said the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Department had been involved in a missing person search for the woman, before her body was found.

The Sacramento County Coroner’s Office later identified the woman as a resident of Antelope and listed the initial classification of death as “undetermined.” The Sentinel has chosen not to publish the woman’s name out of respect for the family.

According to the Coroner’s Office, the woman’s body was found around 1:30 p.m. at the Target store located at 5837 Sunrise Blvd.

A request for additional details from the police investigation was not immediately returned. Additional information will be updated as available.

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Earlier this year in February, an 85-year-old woman committed suicide outside a Citrus Heights Walgreens store on Greenback Lane. Police said a suicide note had been found and the woman was determined to have caused three self-inflicted gunshot wounds to her chest.

[From February: Woman, 85, commits suicide in front of Citrus Heights Walgreens]

Police Sgt. Jason Baldwin previously told The Sentinel that anyone experiencing great depression or suicidal thoughts can contact the Citrus Heights Police Department at any time to be connected with a variety of resources.

According to various suicide prevention resources, warning indicators of suicide can include talking about feeling hopeless, having no reason to live, and other behavior or mood signs.

A local Suicide Prevention Hotline, operated by WellSpace Health, can be reached at (916) 368-3111. The group says its hotline is also available for those concerned about friends or loved ones who may be suicidal.

Update: Sgt. Chad Morris said Saturday that police are “confident that there was no foul play” involved in the woman’s death and said the apparent suicide “was purposeful on her part.” No other information was available, pending a coroner’s report.

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July 28, 2016
Citrus Heights Relay for Life raises over $18k to fight cancer

Participants walk past illuminated bleachers at the San Juan High School track field during a “Luminaria lap” towards the close of Saturday’s Relay for Life event. // CH Sentinel

Updated June 13, 7:19 p.m.–
Organizers said multiple teams and over two hundred people took part in the 13th annual Relay for Life fundraiser at San Juan High School on Saturday. The yearly effort seeks to raise funds for the American Cancer Society as well as support those affected by cancer.

“Compared to last year the turnout is significantly higher,” said the cancer society’s Community Manager Tamika Stove, who reported the event had raised more than $18,000. “All our numbers are up this year.”

The relay kicked off with a ceremony on the high school’s track field at 11 a.m. that featured Citrus Heights Vice Mayor Jeff Slowey and event co-founders Bill Van Duker and Diane Ebbitt. Various laps and activities like “dunk a cop” were held throughout the day, with police raising about $160 from their dollar-a-ball dunk tank and $50 from a “fake jail” setup, according to Sgt. Jason Baldwin.

The sergeant said the Citrus Heights Police Department relay team had been competing with a team from city hall to see who could raise the most funds. Halfway through the day on Saturday, he conceded that his team had been “womped,” with police pulling in about $2,300 in donations and city hall pulling in more than $6,000. Both teams had begun raising funds at least a month in advance of the relay.

Other community sponsors included Food 4 Less, Dutch Bros and Sutter Health, along with many others who had tents placed around the track during the event.

“This is a great way to fight against the disease, and it’s also a great team-building event,” said Mark Cimino, of Citrus Heights-based Cimino Care. He called the event an “all-around positive experience” and said his group had brought out about 20 people to participate in the relay.

43-year-old relay participant Scott Hansen said he was walking for a friend who was battling cancer. He called the evening’s “Luminaria Ceremony” the highlight of the event, which featured hundreds of illuminated white bags lining the track, each dedicated to a lost loved one or cancer survivor. The bags also spelled out the words “HOPE!” and “CURE!” in lit patterns on the bleachers.

“I don’t know if they’re ever going to find a cure for cancer, but supporting the cause is beneficial,” said Hansen.

The 12-hour event was held from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., concluding with a closing ceremony at 10:30 p.m. to focus on committing to fight cancer over the next year and remembering those whose lives have been lost.

In a news release, Stove said thousands of Relay for Life fundraisers are held around the globe each year to raise money for the American Cancer Society. She said the events feature teams and individuals camping out at a school, park, or fairground, with each taking turns walking or running around a track or path — with a goal to always have someone taking a turn walking the track throughout the entire event.

Stove said the dozen or so volunteers who helped put on the event have all had cancer touch their lives in a close way.

“This year was pretty personal,” said relay volunteer Mari Ditgen, who lost her father recently to cancer after a 16 year battle with the disease. “I relay for my dad; I fight because he fought.”

Ditgen said she was encouraged to see the number of participants in the event had grown compared to prior years.

“We just wanted to keep it going last year, so to see it grow so much and the numbers to be so much better this year is just a joy.”

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June 12, 2016
Police: DUI checkpoint planned this weekend in Citrus Heights

File photo, a traffic sign notifies drivers of a DUI checkpoint in Citrus Heights. // CH Sentinel

Citrus Heights police announced Thursday that a DUI and driver’s license checkpoint will be conducted by the department’s Traffic Unit at “an undisclosed location” in the city this weekend.

In a news release issued by Sgt. Brian Fritsch, police said the checkpoint would be held between 8 p.m. and 2 a.m., beginning Friday night, Feb. 19. Police said officers will be looking for signs of alcohol and drug impairment, as well as checking drivers for proper licensing.

Additionally, police said specially trained officers will be on scene to evaluate those suspected of drug-impaired driving, which can include many prescription drugs and over-the-counter medications, according to the news release. Police said drugged driving now accounts for “a growing number of impaired driving crashes.”

CHPD is known to hold regularly publicized checkpoints within Citrus Heights city limits, focusing on areas with a history of collisions and DUI arrests. The department says it announces DUI operations in advance because “the deterrent effect of DUI checkpoints is a proven resource in reducing the number of persons killed and injured in alcohol or drug involved crashes.”

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A 2006 study paid for by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), which provides funding for checkpoints around the nation, reported that alcohol-related crashes dropped significantly in various jurisdictions, after increased, high-publicity DUI campaigns were conducted.

An example included in the study’s 108-page report found alcohol-related fatal crashes dropped by 50 percent in Fresno from 2002 to 2003, after Fresno Police “more than doubled” special enforcement activity. Overall alcohol-related crashes in Fresno dropped from 444 in 2002 down to 333 in 2003, an average drop of 25 percent.

[Document: NHTSA_DUI_Case_Studies_2006.pdf]

In Citrus Heights last year there were 73 DUI-related collisions, according to statistics previously provided to The Sentinel by Sgt. Jason Baldwin. He said DUI collisions in the city last year dropped by 19 percent compared to 2014, with DUI arrests also dropping from 385 down to 340.

Out of six fatal roadway collisions in Citrus Heights last year, police determined alcohol was involved on the part of the driver in at least three of the collisions, and two involved alcohol on the part of pedestrians who were hit and killed.

In prior news releases about local checkpoints, police have emphasized the “preventable nature of drunk driving” accidents, advising those planning to enjoy a drink to designate a sober driver ahead of time, or utilize options like a taxi or Uber. Police have also advised sober drivers to call 9-1-1 to report drunk drivers, and to take the keys of someone who’s been drinking and “help them get home safely.”

[Also on The Sentinel: Citrus Heights Police: crime reduced by 5% in 2015]

Funding for CHPD’s checkpoints comes from a California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) grant, through the NHTSA. Police said last November CHPD had received a $236,190 OTS grant to help fund a year-long program of safety-related efforts, including DUI checkpoints and distracted driving enforcement.

February 19, 2016
Police: rollover collision on Auburn Blvd still under investigation

A car landed upside down and facing the wrong direction of traffic, after a non-injury collision Monday. // CH Sentinel

Citrus Heights police said they are still investigating a collision involving two vehicles on Auburn Boulevard that resulted in one car rolling upside down during rush hour traffic Monday afternoon.

The collision occurred around 5:30 p.m. on Feb. 15, with police and fire department vehicles temporarily blocking a single lane of traffic in each direction of Auburn Boulevard near Walmart.

“None of the involved parties were injured, including the driver of the car which rolled over,” Sgt. Jason Baldwin told The Sentinel in an email statement Wednesday afternoon. He said the collision is still under investigation, and released limited details.

The email statement did not include an explanation of how the four-door Hyundai sedan landed upside down facing the opposite direction of traffic, but Baldwin said alcohol has been ruled out as a factor in the collision and the possible involvement of speed “has not yet been determined.”

Involvement of the second vehicle was also not described, but an officer was observed taking information from a man standing next to a red SUV on the side of the road near the scene, Monday.

Another rollover collision occurred on Thursday this week around 1:30 p.m. on Sunrise Boulevard near Greenback lane, involving a Toyota Tundra rolling on its side. Police said no one was injured in that collision as well, and described damage to the vehicle as “very little.”

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Sgt. Baldwin said “CHPD would like to remind drivers and occupants in vehicles to always wear seatbelts, always drive with caution and to never drink and drive.”

*Story to be updated with additional details, if released by police.

February 19, 2016
POLICE: Woman, 85, commits suicide in front of Citrus Heights Walgreens

Police said an 85-year-old woman committed suicide on Feb. 8 outside the Citrus Heights Walgreens pictured, at Greenback Lane and Dewey Drive. // CH Sentinel

Updated Feb. 9, 3:13 p.m.–
Citrus Heights police said an 85-year-old woman committed suicide in front of a Walgreens store on Greenback Lane Monday afternoon, after officers found her with three “self-inflicted” gunshot wounds to her chest.

Sgt. Jason Baldwin said officers responded to a call shortly after 12 p.m. regarding the well-being of an elderly woman seated in front of Walgreens, at the corner of Greenback Lane and Dewey Drive. After starting medical, Baldwin said officers shortly discovered a firearm “around the area of her leg,” and three small-caliber gunshot wounds to her chest.

The woman, later identified by the Sacramento County Coroner’s office as Mary Mosier of Citrus Heights, was described by Baldwin as “semi-responsive” when officers arrived. She was then transported to a hospital and pronounced deceased.

Baldwin said a two-hour investigation was conducted on scene following the incident, in order to rule out any possibilities of “foul play” or murder.

“After a complete investigation of the incident, it was concluded that it was a suicide,” Sgt. Baldwin told The Sentinel by phone Tuesday morning. “No foul play is suspected.”

Asked to confirm if gunshots were fired outside Walgreens, Baldwin said “from what we gather, yes, that is where she committed suicide. It appears this was a planned suicide by her.”

Citrus Heights police are also investigating another death on Monday as a possible suicide, where a 46-year-old woman was found dead in an apartment on the 12000 block of Fair Oaks Boulevard around 12:05 a.m. on Feb. 8.
Sgt. Baldwin said both deaths are isolated and "unfortunate." He said police are still investigating the death on Fair Oaks Boulevard and was not able to confirm it was a suicide. [See story: Investigation: woman shot, killed at Citrus Heights apartment] Baldwin said anyone experiencing great depression or suicidal thoughts can contact the Citrus Heights Police Department to be connected with a variety of resources. "We just like people to know that hope is not lost, and they can always reach out to us." [follow text="Get local news:"] According to suicide prevention resources, warning indicators of suicide can include talking about feeling hopeless, having no reason to live, and other behavior or mood signs. A local Suicide Prevention Hotline, operated by WellSpace Health, can be reached at (916) 368-3111. The group says its hotline is also available for those concerned about friends or loved ones who may be suicidal. Update: Police later confirmed in a news release issued Tuesday afternoon that a suicide note had been located for the 85-year-old woman. The news release also confirmed that the 46-year-old's death on Fair Oaks Boulevard involved a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

February 9, 2016
2015 stats show 19% drop in Citrus Heights DUI crashes, but fatalities rise

File photo, Citrus Heights police arrested a driver on felony DUI charges after a head-on collision behind Raley’s on Aug. 18 sent several people to the hospital. // CH Sentinel

Updated Jan. 31, 12:05 a.m.–
In statistics released last week, police said there was a significant drop in overall DUI-related collisions in Citrus Heights during 2015, although fatal collisions rose during the same period.

According to Sgt. Jason Baldwin, 2015 saw a total of 73 DUI-related collisions, down from 90 in 2014 — with DUI arrests also dropping from 385 in 2014 down to 340 last year. He said traffic-related fatalities rose to six in 2015, up from none in 2014.

The sergeant said he believes the drop in both DUI arrests and collisions is a good indication that enforcement and education helped reduce the number of intoxicated drivers on the road, but said the rise in fatal collisions “is a clear indicator of more work to be done.”

Police previously confirmed alcohol was involved on the part of the driver in at least three of the fatal collisions, and two involved alcohol on the part of pedestrians who were hit and killed.

In a press release last November, police cited the “particularly alarming” rise in roadway fatalities on Citrus Heights streets and said a new $236,190 grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety would be used to help fund local efforts aimed at reducing traffic-related deaths and injuries.

[From November: CHPD seeks to reduce fatalities with $236k traffic safety grant]

Police said specific efforts funded by the grant include motorcycle safety and distracted driving enforcement, seat belt and child safety seat enforcement, and DUI checkpoints. The Department said anti-DUI efforts would also include “stakeout operations” to monitor the “worst-of-the-worst” repeat DUI offenders, and roving “saturation patrols” to specifically search for DUI drivers.
Sgt. Baldwin said the overall drop in DUI-related collisions could be the result of several factors -- highlighting that the Citrus Heights Police Department did "a lot of public education" regarding drunk and drugged driving last year. Baldwin said the Department launched a "Know thy Limits" campaign in 2015, involving groups of officers walking through local bars offering to conduct voluntary alcohol screening tests. On numerous occasions, he said individuals who thought they would be okay to drive ended up testing well-over the legal blood-alcohol limit of .08 percent. [follow text="Get local news:"] Asked whether the rise in ride-sharing services like Uber have helped reduce drunk driving, Sgt. Baldwin said anything that can take a drunk driver off the road is a "great thing," but credited a focus on enforcement, education, and roadway engineering efforts as reasons for the drop in DUI collisions in the city. A 2006 study paid for by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, which provides funding for DUI checkpoints around the nation, reported that alcohol-related crashes dropped significantly in various jurisdictions, after increased, high-publicity DUI campaigns were conducted. [Document: NHTSA_DUI_Case_Studies_2006] An example included in the study's 108-page report found overall alcohol-related crashes in Fresno went from 444 in 2002 down to 333 in 2003, after Fresno Police "more than doubled" special enforcement activity, coupled with increased publicity. [From last year: Head-on collision behind Citrus Heights Raley’s ends in DUI arrest] Sgt. Baldwin said CHPD "is committed to making the streets safer," and will continue its educational and enforcement efforts. According to the City's latest six-month strategic plan, police also plan to continue regular DUI enforcement operations within Citrus Heights, including roving DUI saturation patrols and checkpoints. Note: An original version of this story reported police stating there were five roadway fatalities in 2015, but after a Sentinel request for clarification, Sgt. Baldwin later confirmed on Jan. 28 that a total of six roadway fatalities had occurred. He said the initial number released had not properly calculated the most recent fatality from November, due to a report not being yet complete.

January 26, 2016
Citrus Heights News Briefs: DUI arrests, mayors, Kmart & crime (Jan. 16)

Several highlights from local news this week include a suspected DUI collision involving a light pole and an apartment, a closure announcement for the Auburn Boulevard Kmart store, recognition of former Mayor Sue Frost, and release of local crime statistics for 2015.

Driver crashes off Antelope Road; arrested on suspicion of DUI
Police said a car driving on Antelope Road near Auburn Boulevard lost control in the rain on Thursday, colliding with a light pole, and then crashing into the side of an apartment complex before stopping between two buildings. The incident occurred around 6:45 a.m. on Jan. 14 and involved a solo male driver around 30 years of age, according to Lt. Jason Russo. After being contacted on scene, Russo said the driver tried to ingest what police believe was a drug, and was arrested for suspicion of driving under the influence. Russo said the driver was lucky to have not hurt anyone and advised motorists to drive slower in the rain.

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Lt. Russo said several hundred DUI arrests are made in Citrus Heights each year, with one officer recently being recognized for making more than 30 DUI arrests. The lieutenant said additional DUI arrest data for 2015 and 2014 would be released next week, in response to an inquiry by The Sentinel.

Citrus Heights Kmart to close in April; begin liquidation Jan. 24
According to various news reports across the state this week, company spokesman Howard Riefs announced the closure of four California Kmart stores, including the Auburn Boulevard store in Citrus Heights. Riefs told The Sacramento Bee on Wednesday the Kmart at 8501 Auburn Blvd. would begin a liquidation sale on Jan. 24, in advance of a mid-April closing date. Other closures will reportedly take place in Anaheim, Chula Vista and San Mateo in the next few months.

Council recognizes former Mayor Sue Frost for past service
Continuing a tradition of recognizing the outgoing Citrus Heights mayor at the beginning of each year, former Citrus Heights Mayor Sue Frost was presented by her colleagues with a bouquet of flowers and a framed “pictorial memorial” of her past year as mayor, during a Jan. 14 council meeting. Current Mayor Jeannie Bruins thanked Frost her service and Vice Mayor Jeff Slowey said she had done a “good job.”

During the meeting, Frost called her year as mayor "the opportunity of a lifetime," and said she looks forward to continued service opportunities. The five-member council annually votes in a new mayor and vice mayor from among its ranks each year. [See prior story for more: Council votes in Jeannie Bruins as new Citrus Heights mayor] Police: 2015 crime in Citrus Heights reduced by 5%, compared to 2014 Crime statistics released by the Citrus Heights Police Department on Jan. 12 showed a five percent reduction in crime for Citrus Heights during 2015, compared to 2014 statistics. Categories of crime with the most significant drops included a 28 percent decrease in motor vehicle theft, an 18 percent drop in burglaries, and a 13 percent drop in assaults, according to statistics provided by Sgt. Jason Baldwin. In a followup statement, Baldwin called 2015 a "great year" for the police department, and said police personnel meet regularly to discuss crime trends and craft plans for how to reduce those trends, in partnership with active community members. [See full story for more crime stats: Citrus Heights Police: crime reduced by 5% in 2015]

January 16, 2016
Citrus Heights Police: crime reduced by 5% in 2015

Crime statistics released by the Citrus Heights Police Department this week show a five percent reduction in crime for Citrus Heights during 2015, compared to 2014 statistics.

In an email statement Wednesday afternoon, Sgt. Jason Baldwin reported property crime dropped by 4 percent during 2015, and “persons crime” dropped by 8 percent in Citrus Heights. He said property crimes include burglary, larceny, motor vehicle theft, and arson, and persons crimes include homicide, rape, robbery, and assault.

Overall, the sergeant said the data equates to a five percent reduction in crime for 2015 in Citrus Heights, a figure Mayor Jeannie Bruins said she was pleased to hear.

“I’m very happy with our results, and I think our community will be pleased,” Bruins told The Sentinel via phone Thursday afternoon. She credited Police Chief Christopher Boyd for bringing a program called Crime and Traffic in Citrus Heights (CATCH) to the city several years ago, and said the crime drop was a “direct result” of the program. She said CATCH and its crime mapping technology helps identify “hot spots” and strategic targeting of those areas.

[Follow future stories about CATCH and other local news: Sign up for The Sentinel’s free Weekend Edition.]

Also reached by phone Thursday, Sgt. Baldwin provided additional statistics on crime subcategories, with significant drops including a 28 percent decrease in motor vehicle theft, an 18 percent drop in burglaries, and a 13 percent drop in assaults, compared to 2014.

The motor vehicle theft reduction equated to 105 less stolen vehicles in 2015, according to the sergeant. He said Hondas were the number one stolen vehicle, making up 45 percent of the 271 vehicles stolen last year.

Asked about police efforts which may have contributed to the drop in vehicle thefts, Sgt. Baldwin said he couldn’t address specific tactics, other than police had focused on “hot spots.”

Several categories with upticks in crime included robbery, which increased from 89 in 2014 up to 113 last year. Baldwin said police are “still working on this particular category,” but said changes in reporting practices in the private sector may have increased the number of reported robberies.

Another category with an uptick was homicides, which rose from two in 2014 to five in 2015, according to statistics referenced by Sgt. Baldwin, which are tabulated according to the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting definitions. Police Lt. David Gutierrez previously told The Sentinel that 2015 homicides in the city reached a total of six, compared to three in 2014. Although Gutierrez could not be immediately reached for further clarification, the difference is likely due to one homicide in each year including an officer-involved shooting, which the FBI says are tabulated separately as "justifiable homicides," after a law enforcement investigation. [Related: Body ID’d in latest Citrus Heights shooting; 6th homicide of 2015] Local annual crime data was released in response to a Jan. 4 request by The Sentinel, which Sgt. Baldwin said CHPD requested from the California Department of Justice. Baldwin said law enforcement agencies are required to report monthly crime statistics to the DOJ, which in turn forwards the data to the FBI and is used in the Bureau's annual Uniform Crime Report. 2015 crime data from other agencies is largely unavailable this early on for comparison, although the Rancho Cordova Police Department, which publishes crime data on its website on a monthly basis, reported an increase in both person and property crime during January through October of 2015, compared to the same period the prior year. As of Jan. 14, Rancho Cordova's online statistics did not include data more recent than October of 2015. [follow text="Get local news:"] Crime data was released by the FBI in its 2014 crime report just a little over three months ago, and the California DOJ released its latest 2014 crime report in July of the following year. According to the latest DOJ report, California's "crime rate decreased for almost every offense between 2013 and 2014." A state crime report for 2015 is expected this summer. [You may also like: Citrus Heights police roll out new 2015 patrol SUVs]

January 15, 2016
Body ID’d in latest Citrus Heights shooting; 6th homicide of 2015

Police lights, stock photo. // Citrus Heights Sentinel

Updated Jan. 9, 11:55 p.m. —
The Sacramento County Coroner’s office has identified 19-year-old Andrew Vanhunnik of Citrus Heights as the man who was shot to death in the parking lot of a Kingswood Drive apartment complex on Dec. 28, 2015.

Lt. David Gutierrez said Vanhunnik’s death brought the 2015 total up to six homicides in the city, compared to three in 2014. He said overall crime statistics in the city are down compared to 2014, with police set to release additional annual crime data this week.

In the most recent homicide on Dec. 28, Sgt. Jason Baldwin told The Sentinel there was no update as of Wednesday this week, although he confirmed that a Citrus Heights police operation in Roseville on Dec. 30 was related to the homicide investigation. He said that operation resulted in two individuals being detained, but for reasons unrelated to the homicide.

[Related: 2015 stats show 19% drop in Citrus Heights DUI crashes, but fatalities rise ]

2015 began with a peaceful January and February in Citrus Heights, but saw three separate homicides in March — along with three arrests.

A March 6 shooting on the 6500 block of Greenback Lane led police to arrest Luther Devon Frazier, then 34, who was charged with the murder of 22-year-old Shaun Blechinger. According to court records, Frazier was arraigned on Mar. 10, 2015, and a trial has been scheduled for Jan. 27, 2016.

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The March 16 death of Kimberly Chittenden on the 7900 block of Rocky Point Court, near Kingswood Drive and Sunrise Boulevard, led police to arrest 48-year-old Allen Bocteemus Franks the following day. According to court records, Franks was charged with murder in the case and was arraigned on March 19, 2015, with a trial date scheduled for March 14, 2016.

The third homicide in March led to the arrest of William Patrick Hendrickson, who was charged with murder for the March 26 death of his 32-year-old girlfriend, Sarah Priess, on the 7500 block of Cook Avenue, near Auburn Boulevard. Police said Hendrickson was arrested after turning himself in the same day.

A Sacramento Bee story later detailed Priess’ life and “chaotic” relationship with Hendrickson, with the couple having a history of domestic violence. According to court records, Hendrickson was arraigned on Mar. 30, 2015 and a settlement conference has been scheduled for Jan. 22, 2016.

Police said the suspects and victims were known by each other in all three March homicide incidents, and no outstanding suspects are wanted in any of the cases.

[Related: Police make arrest in 3rd Citrus Heights homicide in March] In the May 30 death of 42-year-old John Rohrer, police arrested Susan Rohrer, 38, who was charged with involuntary manslaughter. Police said in a May news release that officers had responded to a single gunshot reportedly coming from inside a residence on the 6000 block of Cheshire Way, near the Sunrise Marketplace at Birdcage, and found the man unresponsive, "with a gunshot wound to his upper body.” Police released limited details, but said everyone at the residence was cooperative with officers. According to court records, Susan plead no contest and was sentenced on Nov. 13, 2015, with a 180-day custody period and five years parole. The fifth homicide of the year involved officers responding to a June 22 domestic violence call at apartments on the 7500 block of Greenback Lane. 35-year-old Eduardo Reyes was shot and killed after police said he fired a gun at officers, and police returned fire. The four officers who fired their weapons in the incident were placed on standard administrative leave. The Sentinel submitted a request on Wednesday for details on the outcome of the June 22 police investigation. Police said a response would be provided this week, along with annual crime data comparing 2015 and 2014 in Citrus Heights. Update: For more crime statistics, see story "Citrus Heights Police: crime reduced by 5% in 2015"] [Don't miss local news: Click here to sign up for The Sentinel's free weekend edition]

January 8, 2016