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Citrus Heights SWAT surround home; man inside possibly armed

Citrus Heights police surrounded a home during a 12-hour stand-off with a possibly armed man, Thursday.

[See updated story: Man’s 15-hour standoff with Citrus Heights police ends in arrest]

With SWAT gear on and rifles drawn, police have been outside a Citrus Heights home Thursday in a 12-hour ongoing stand-off with a man they say is uncooperative and possibly armed.

Police said officers responded to the 6300 block of Trenton Way, near Auburn Boulevard, around 6:40 a.m. for a reported domestic violence incident involving a man and a woman. Responding officers were able to “safely remove” the woman involved, but were unable to get the man to exit the home when he refused to leave, a police news release said.

“Based on the nature of the crime and the report of a firearm,” police said a SWAT team and Crisis Negotiation Team were deployed, arriving on scene with the Department’s Mine Resistant Armor Protected vehicle.

As of 6:30 p.m., the stand-off was still ongoing, with police saying officers are attempting to negotiate with the man in order to resolve the incident “in a safe and peaceful manner.”

According to the Sacramento Bee, a family member said the holed-up man suffers from a bi-polar disorder and has a live-in caretaker who called police.

[See updated story: Man’s 15-hour standoff with Citrus Heights police ends in arrest]

The home is located on the same block as Arlington Heights Elementary School, but the school district said police had determined a lock-down was not necessary, according to a statement on the San Juan Unified School District’s Twitter account.

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April 17, 2015
Citrus Heights PD swears in 17 new officers at awards ceremony

The Citrus Heights Police Department handed out awards, made promotions, and welcomed more than a dozen new officers to its team last week, during an annual Swearing-In and Awards Ceremony at the Community Center.

“Our men and women work extremely hard, day in and day out, 24/7, to ensure our community is safe,” said Sergeant Michael Wells in a news release, commenting that the ceremony is “just one way” to show the Department’s appreciation for their work.

[Recommended: Citrus Heights PD seeks public’s help to ID armed robbery suspect]

In addition to the new officers being sworn in and taking their oath of office, Police Chief Christopher Boyd also promoted a lieutenant and two sergeants during the ceremony. Members of the support staff were honored as well, including a code enforcement officer, community service officers, program assistants, volunteers, and explorers, according to the news release.

Other awards were also given to members of the police department and community, highlighting noteworthy efforts which included two life-saving awards, exceptional service, and team achievement.

The event, held last Thursday, was attended by city council members, as well as representatives from various law enforcement agencies and members of the public.

CHPD says the ceremony is designed to appreciate “hard work, sacrifice, and dedication” of its team, honoring their efforts to make Citrus Heights “a better place.”

The 9th annual ceremony has been held each year since the City formed its own police department in 2006.

April 4, 2015
Police: Greenback DUI Checkpoint nets 2 arrests, 30 citations

A “Friday the 13th” DUI Checkpoint at Greenback Lane and Birdcage Street resulted in screening of 920 vehicles, with police arresting two for drug-related DUIs and 30 being cited for various violations, according to a sergeant with the Citrus Heights Police Department.

Citrus Heights police conduct a DUI Checkpoint operation on Auburn Boulevard in January.

The seven-hour DUI and drivers license checkpoint began around 8 p.m. Friday, with Sergeant David Gutierrez telling The Sentinel the date was selected due to it being the weekend before Saint Patrick’s Day. He said the location was selected “based on recent DUI collision and DUI arrest data.”

Gutierrez said officers administered five sobriety field tests which resulted in the arrests made, with additional citations being issued for violations including suspended and unlicensed driver issues.

[From January: Weekend DUI Checkpoint nets 1 arrest, 6 tows]

The Department’s last DUI Checkpoint operation was held last month on Antelope Road which resulted in a similar number of cars screened, but no DUI arrests — although officers arrested a driver after discovering a loaded handgun and an illegal assault rifle in his vehicle, according to a February 26 police media release.

[Want to know why police publicize DUI Checkpoints ahead of time? Find that answer in our prior story: Police plan ‘Friday the 13th’ DUI Checkpoint]

CHPD acquires funding for its checkpoints through a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, with the Department’s most recent grant being awarded last October for $182,525.

March 14, 2015
Shooting: Citrus Heights police arrest man on murder charges

Updated Mar. 9, 10:15 a.m. —
Citrus Heights police said a suspect has been arrested in connection with a fatal shooting on Greenback Lane Friday, according to a press release sent out this afternoon.

Police lights, stock photo. // Citrus Heights Sentinel

The 34-year-old male suspect was arrested and booked in the Sacramento County Jail on murder charges, after he was identified and located by law enforcement officers, according to the press statement authored by Lieutenant Christine Ford. “Due to the ongoing investigation,” Ford said a photo of the suspect would not be released, but police initially described the suspect being sought as a “black male adult wearing a dark colored sweatshirt possibly driving a silver colored sedan with damage to the passenger side.”

Police said the shooting occurred around 10:30 a.m. Friday on the 6500 block of Greenback Lane, where officers responded to reports of shots fired in the area and found a man who had been shot.

“Officers rendered medical aid until emergency medical personnel arrived,” according to police, but the man was later pronounced deceased. The Sacramento County Coroner’s Office later identified the man as 22-year-old Shaun Blechinger.

[From 2014: Citrus Heights shooting on Sayonara leaves one dead; police seek witnesses]

While the investigation is still ongoing, detectives have determined the two men knew each other, and encourage anyone who may have additional information about the incident to contact Citrus Heights police at (916) 727-5500.
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March 7, 2015
Police: SWAT responds to domestic violence call; arrest made

Mariposa Avenue was briefly blocked off by Citrus Heights police Monday, as officers conducted a felony vehicle stop related to domestic violence allegation.

Updated Feb. 28, 8:55 p.m. —
Citrus Heights police said a SWAT team was called out and a 31-year-old man was arrested on domestic violence charges Monday, after the alleged victim was sent to the hospital from injuries.

According to a police news release, the incident occurred early Monday morning, with officers responding to a 911 call on the 7800 block of Beaupre Way, near Sayonara Drive. Understanding the man to be inside, police said they attempted to make contact by phone, but were unsuccessful.

Due to the “seriousness of the crime and the suspect’s criminal history,” a SWAT team then conducted a search of the home, but was unable to find the man inside, according to the news release.

[Recommended: 3 arrested for weapons violations in Citrus Heights SWAT raids]

Sergeant Mike Wells told The Sentinel that officers later found the man driving his vehicle and conducted a felony vehicle stop on Mariposa Avenue near Antelope Road. He said the man was taken into custody “without incident.”

In a statement Monday afternoon, CHPD Lieutenant Jason Russo said the Department “takes reports of domestic violence very seriously,” and thanked the officers and community members involved.

February 24, 2015
Citrus Heights Police try new “Trikke” tech to stop crime

Updated Jan. 22, 3:01 p.m.–
You may have seen them out on patrol at Sunrise Mall already. They’re the new, three-wheeled “Trikke Patroller” electric units — the latest tech deployed by the Citrus Heights Police Department in an effort to minimize crime at the Mall.

Officer Jeff Schouten now patrols the Sunrise Mall with one of Citrus Heights Police Department’s new Trikkes.

The light-weight, collapsible, quiet units are able to go up escalators or down a flight of stairs, and feature California-legal red and blue flashing lights and even a siren — all for a cost of about $4,000 a piece, with civilian versions available starting around $1600.

Officer Jeff Schouten, CHPD’s full-time policeman handling Sunrise Mall, listed nearly a dozen benefits the Trikkes have, including speeding up officer response time and being great for public relations.

“I want one… Where do I get one,” are the repeated comments Officer Schouten said he receives from curious shoppers while he’s out patrolling his “little city,” as he calls the Mall. “You see the smile on their face when they see us [on the Trikkes].”

Officer Schouten — or “Jeff,” as he prefers to be called — said the Trikkes top out at about 15 mph, with officers required to go through a short training course in order to ride them, including learning how to dismount quickly during a pursuit at full throttle.

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The California-based Trikke company advertises that quick mobility of security personnel on a Trikke can enable one officer to cover an area that would normally take three or four officers. For Jeff, he says that means a several-minute walk across the width of the Mall is now cut down to about a minute on a Trikke — helping raise awareness to police presence and likely cause criminals to think twice.

The “zip-zip-zip” speed advantage has also helped cut response time in half, according to a loss prevention worker at Macy’s, whose team relies on the police department’s Mall officer to handle arrests or difficult situations.

Jeff also emphasized the height visibility officers gain when standing on the Trikkes, enabling them to more easily spot people in a crowd and quickly scan activity in a store by looking over racks. He said the height also helps in scanning for suspicious activity in parking lots, and the electric-powered Trikke saves fuel costs with a battery that typically lasts a 10-hour shift.

The Department first considered buying the Trikkes after seeing them at a CopsWest law enforcement exposition last year that featured new law enforcement vehicles and equipment, according to CHPD Sergeant Mike Wells. He said a big plus is the mobility the 53-pound Trikkes have over the Department’s older “T-3” electric patrol units, which were bulkier and couldn’t fit in the back of a police car.

The Trikkes were first put in use at the Mall toward the end of 2014, and police said they plan to feature the new three-wheeled scooters in community events like the City’s annual Red, White and Blue Parade.

January 22, 2015
Donations sought for Citrus Heights ‘Holiday Referral’ program

Photo credit: Flickr commons, asenat29.

Updated Nov. 28, 3:35 p.m.–
The City of Citrus Heights is partnering with the community this year to help provide food, household items, toys and clothes to families in need through its annual Holiday Referral Program.

“This unique community-involved program was created to help families who have experienced a hardship or critical event in their life over the past year,” said Citrus Heights Police Department Sergeant Mike Wells in a press release about the program. “We rely heavily on the community to help make the effort a success.”

Last year, organizers said the program brought together over 40 clubs, business groups, churches, schools and residents to help nearly 400 adults and children in Citrus Heights — and are again seeking those willing to donate items, adopt a family or volunteer this year.

“This year we are encouraging Citrus Heights businesses to work with their employee teams to either collect donations for our program or adopt a family,” said Wells. “We are looking for businesses to also place donation bins in their lobbies for collecting new toys, clothes, etc.”

Organizers are also seeking to identify families who need assistance, and invite community members to nominate a qualifying family by submitting a referral form to the police department. Although originally having a deadline of November 21, police say referrals will be accepted through November 28, with donations accepted through December 15.

Donations can be dropped off at the Citrus Heights Police Department at 6315 Fountain Square Dr. between the hours of 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, or Saturdays between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. Organizers say used or expired items will not be accepted.

Those with questions or who are interested in adopting a family can email holidayreferral@citrusheights.net, or call (916) 727-5500.

November 28, 2014
4-car collision blocks Sunrise/Greenback intersection

Updated Nov. 8, 7:59 a.m.–
A collision involving at least four cars at the intersection of Sunrise Boulevard and Greenback Lane blocked several lanes of traffic Thursday night, as about a dozen officers responded to the scene.

“Citrus Heights has a road closure due to a collision,” Senior Dispatcher Tina Mack with the Citrus Heights Police Department said in an email alert to media around 8:30 p.m. Thursday. “All southbound Sunrise Boulevard lanes are closed at Greenback Lane. Traffic is diverted to eastbound and westbound Greenback Lane.”

By 10 p.m. all lanes had been re-opened.

Police did not return a phone call requesting comment Friday morning. Reports of injuries and the cause of collision are unknown at this time.

*Editor’s note: Latest updates on this collision were posted in this follow-up story: “CRIME UPDATE: red-light runner fled scene of 4-car crash at Sunrise/Greenback”

November 7, 2014
Long lines fuel Dutch Bros. Coffee fundraiser for slain officers

Long lines of cars and pedestrians flooded the Citrus Heights Dutch Bros. Coffee location Wednesday, as the company announced its Sacramento-area locations would participate in “Proceeds Day” to support the families of two fallen officers in Placer and Sacramento County.

Customers wait in long lines outside the Citrus Heights Dutch Bros. Wednesday, eager to show their support for law enforcement by grabbing cup of coffee during “Proceeds Day.”

“The Sheriff’s Department has always had our back. It is our time to have theirs,” said local Dutch Bros. owner Nikol Grubbs in a press release announcing the event. “They are customers, but more importantly they are always looking out for the safety of our staff which means more to us than we can say.”

The Citrus Heights Police Department (CHPD) tweeted a “thank you” to the coffee company early this morning, and told followers, “Don’t forget to stop by @DutchBrosSac today.” The Department also dispatched officers to help keep lines moving quickly, as cars were backed up for several hundred feet in the parking lot.

“We support anyone who’s raising funds for the fallen deputies,” said CHPD Sergeant Jason Baldwin. “Our role is to support Dutch Bros. through talking with community members and traffic calming measures.”

Baldwin said lines were about 15-20 minutes long Wednesday afternoon, but commented “the community is very supportive; they’re willing to wait.”

Citrus Heights is among nine Sacramento-area locations participating in “Proceeds Day,” including Auburn, Rocklin, Granite Bay, Woodland, Davis and Sacramento.

The company says proceeds from all sales today will go to support the families of Sacramento Sheriff’s Deputy Danny Oliver and Placer County Sheriff’s Detective Michael David Davis, Jr., who were both killed last week.

October 30, 2014
‘Bait Vehicle’ Signs Raise Questions from Residents

An electronic sign warns passerby’s of bait vehicles around Citrus Heights // CHSentinel

Ever wonder what’s going on with the large “bait vehicle” signs around Citrus Heights?

If so, you’re not alone, as questions about the signs have been brought up by residents at several community meetings in the past few months.

To find out the story behind the signs, The Sentinel checked in with Officer Wesley Herman of the Citrus Heights Police Department, who said the signs are part of the Department’s auto-theft prevention efforts.

Explaining that “bait vehicles” look just like any other vehicle on the street, Officer Herman said the only difference is that they’re equipped with a hidden GPS tracking device and strategically placed in areas where police have observed high theft or crime trends, with the hope that criminals “bite.”

Around North America, such vehicles have successfully been used to catch thieves, with some “bait” cars featuring remote door locking, hidden cameras, and an ignition “kill switch” to shut the vehicle off remotely. When British Columbia instituted a bait car program in 2003, a 75 percent drop in vehicle thefts over an 11-year period was documented, according to an Insurance Corporation of British Columbia study.

Although bait vehicles are equipped to help officers track and arrest car thieves, Officer Herman said the primary purpose of the program is to prevent auto-theft from happening in the first place — giving reason to why the big orange and black warning signs are regularly deployed in high-traffic areas around Citrus Heights.

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“We try to be the least attractive girl at the dance,” the officer remarked, explaining that the highly visible “bait vehicle” signs help prevent crime by notifying would-be auto thieves that unmarked, random vehicles in Citrus Heights are actively being tracked.

“They don’t know if we have one, twenty, or any out,” said the officer, calling it a type of “psychological war” on criminal minds.

His message to would-be Citrus Heights thieves is: “Hey, go ahead and steal a car — it might be one of ours.”

October 8, 2014