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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
Updated: 2 shot, 1 killed in Citrus Heights shooting

Police lights, stock photo. // CH Sentinel

Updated Jan. 2, 10:26 p.m.–
Citrus Heights police said detectives are investigating a fatal shooting on Monday at a Kingswood Drive apartment complex near Sunrise Boulevard, with officers reportedly conducting a related search on Wednesday in Roseville.

The shooting occurred shortly before 2 a.m. on Dec. 28, leaving one man dead and one hospitalized with “what appears to be non-life threatening injuries,” according to a police news release issued Monday morning.

Police said officers responded to the 7900 block of Kingswood Drive after receiving multiple reports of gunshots in the area and found two men with gunshot wounds. Metro Fire personnel pronounced one man dead at the scene, with the other transported to a hospital.

As of 10 a.m. Monday, police said detectives were still “in the beginning stages of the investigation,” but believe the case to be an isolated incident. Citing the “active and ongoing nature” of the investigation, police have not released any additional information.

On Wednesday, Citrus Heights police reportedly conducted “a follow-up investigation” in Roseville related to Monday’s homicide, according to an ABC10 news report. The suspect was not found, but two others were detained in connection with another criminal investigation.

Police said detectives “are urging anyone, including family and friends of the subjects involved with this case, to come forward with any information.” The Citrus Heights Police Department can be contacted at (916) 727-5500.

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Detectives are also investigating another shooting in Citrus Heights that occurred Christmas Eve on Donegal Drive, near Auburn Boulevard. The 26-year-old man who was shot in that case is expected to survive, according to police.

December 28, 2015
Citrus Heights police convoy delivers Christmas gifts to kids, families

A screenshot from a video of Citrus Heights police delivering gifts to families, Tuesday. Video below.

Updated Dec. 23, 12:25 p.m.–
With flashing lights and sirens blaring, nearly two dozen police officers were joined by their families, community members and the mayor of Citrus Heights, to hand-deliver Christmas gifts to families in need around the city, Tuesday.

The deliveries were part of an annual police-led community effort called the Holiday Referral Program, which benefited around 30 families this year — four of whom were selected for the special drop-off’s conducted on Tuesday.

“It really sets the tone for the Christmas season,” said Mayor Jeannie Bruins, highlighting an experience dropping off gifts on Sayonara Drive. “When the mom in the house grabbed hold of me and, crying with tears in her eyes, said that we had no idea how much this meant to their family. That was the best time for everybody.”

“That was the mayor?” A surprised Christopher Garcia asked an officer after overhearing Mayor Bruins had been inside his home with the gift delivery group. He said the mayor and police had dropped off new bikes and other gifts for his family.

Garcia recalled having a shocked reaction when a line of police officers and other community members filed into his home on Pompei Court, around 5 p.m. Tuesday. The 19-year-old said his mom had told him a group of police officers were coming, but he was surprised to see such a large team arrive to drop off presents.

“It was cool. My little brothers got to see all these presents come,” Garcia said, standing next to his eight-year-old and 12-year-old siblings. “They’re pretty happy about them.”

The annual program is coordinated with the Citrus Heights Police Activities League and relies heavily on community and business donations, including a grant from Walmart, according to police. To be considered for the program, referred families must have “experienced a hardship or critical event in their life over the past year that has caused a significant change in their financial abilities,” according to a referral form.

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“At the end of the day, we’re all human beings with families,” said police spokesman Det. Wesley Herman, explaining why the Department conducts annual gift drops each December. “We come across a lot of individuals during our work that we recognize sometimes are very deserving, but may not have the means necessary to provide the kind of Christmas they want for their families.”

Citrus Heights police also host an annual “Shop with a cop” event for kids at the Auburn Boulevard Walmart. This year, more than twenty uniformed police officers grabbed a shopping cart and took 14 local students on the annual $100 gift-shopping spree on Dec. 16.

Note: See video coverage below and prior story for context: Holiday police program benefits needy Citrus Heights families

December 23, 2015
Alleged assault at party leads to heavy police response

Officers gather behind a police car on Sungarden Drive Saturday, preparing to send a team inside a home after an alleged assault. // CHSentinel

Residents in a typically quiet Citrus Heights neighborhood were treated to an unexpected Halloween surprise on Saturday when more than a dozen police officers arrived with handguns and rifles drawn outside a home on Sungarden Drive, responding to a possible domestic violence assault during a party at the residence.

Police said they received a call around 11:25 a.m. Saturday, reporting that a female had been assaulted by an ex-boyfriend with a baseball bat during a Friday-night party.

Responding officers used a megaphone to order those inside to exit the home, several of whom were observed walking out with their hands behind their heads. A lieutenant on scene said about eight people were detained – two of whom were found still sleeping when a four-man police team entered the home to conduct a “protective sweep” shortly after 1 p.m.

The lieutenant, Chad Courtney, said the “possible suspect” involved was not found inside and said police are currently gathering witness statements to determine “if a crime actually occurred.”

According to Lt. Courtney, fire department personnel at the scene believed the female’s injuries were “inconsistent” with how she said she was injured. He also said other potential witnesses were “still intoxicated,” making it difficult to determine what happened.

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Courtney said officers responded with a heavy presence due to the initial call alleging “assault with a deadly weapon.” Currently, he said it looks more like “possibly a simple assault, if not something less.”

He said the involved female is currently in the hospital for minor injuries.

Update: As of 4:30 p.m. Saturday, a patrol sergeant reached by phone said additional details could not be released, pending a police investigation expected to be completed by next week. He said arrests could be made based on the outcome of the investigation, but confirmed that no arrests have been made at this point.

November 1, 2015
CHPD releases video to help ID armed robbery suspects

A still image taken from a surveillance video released by Citrus Heights Police Thursday, appearing to show a gas station robbery from Sept. 30.

Updated Oct. 22, 6:10 p.m.–
Citrus Heights police released surveillance video Thursday and requested the public’s help in identifying two suspects wanted in connection with the armed robbery of a local gas station.

Police said around 8:14 p.m. on Sept. 30, 2015, two men entered the Shell gas station located at 6141 Greenback Ln. and fled with cash after demanding money from the employee at gunpoint, according to a news release sent out Thursday afternoon.

An accompanying two-minute surveillance video appears to show the robbery taking place inside the gas station, with a man holding a handgun heard ordering the employee to “open the register” while a second man fills a bag with money.

One suspect is described by police as a heavy-set “black male” in his 20’s, around six feet in height, with short black hair. He is shown wearing a large baggy green sweater and baggy blue jeans. Police described the other suspect as a “light-skinned black male,” approximately 5-feet-10-inches, with a stocky build — also in his 20’s, with short black hair. He is shown wearing a large baggy red shirt, with long baggy jean shorts and black and red high-top shoes.

[Video below]

Those with information about this incident are encouraged to call Detective Shaun Gualco at the Citrus Heights Police Department’s non-emergency phone number: (916) 727-5500.

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Another alleged armed robbery took place at a business near Antelope Road on Tupelo Drive, resulting in Citrus Heights police similarly releasing surveillance images to the public in an effort to identify the suspect. The result of that investigation is unknown.

October 23, 2015
Man arrested for allegedly firing gun in Citrus Heights home

Police lights, file photo // CHSentinel

A 29-year-old man was arrested in Citrus Heights Saturday morning for “negligent discharge of a firearm,” following multiple reports of gun shots near Walnut Drive and Auburn Boulevard, according to a police news release.

Police said responding officers were “witness” to gunshots coming from a home on the 7500 block of Walnut Drive and set up a perimeter, with assistance from neighboring police departments. The man, identified as Eleh Pekun, exited the home at the request of officers and was safely detained, according to police.

The home was also searched for potential victims, after police said they received consent from Pekun, but none were found.

Police said Pekun was arrested for “negligent discharge of a firearm,” as well as vandalism and other weapons violations. A firearm and ammunition were also seized by police.

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October 17, 2015
Sylvan Rd closed after fatality involving motorcycle, SUV

A collision involving a motorcyclist and an SUV closed down multiple lanes near Sylvan Corners in Citrus Heights, Friday night.

Updated Oct. 17, 9:43 a.m.–
A collision involving an SUV and motorcyclist caused both directions of traffic on Sylvan Road to be shut down for several hours Friday night, with a Citrus Heights police officer on scene confirming the crash resulted in a fatality.

Police said officers were dispatched to the scene around 7:07 p.m. and found a male motorcyclist in the roadway “with significant injuries consistent with a vehicle collision,” according to a news release issued shortly after 9 p.m., Friday. Although lifesaving efforts were attempted by officers, Metro Fire personnel arriving on scene pronounced the man deceased.

Police said a preliminary investigation revealed the SUV collided with the motorcycle while making a left turn into the KFC parking lot. The motorcyclist was traveling in the “#1 lane” on Sylvan Road and “was ejected” from his motorcycle upon impact, according to the news release.

It is currently unknown if alcohol or speed were a factor in the collision, but police said the driver of the SUV is cooperating with their investigation.

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A worker at a nearby convenience store said he heard the collision while helping a customer and observed the accident scene shortly after the incident. He said a white sheet behind the SUV was still covering the body of the motorcyclist as of 8 p.m., Friday. Officer Wesley later confirmed that bodies of those deceased in such incidents remain on scene for the County coroner’s investigation.

The name of the motorcyclist involved will be released by the coroner’s office, following notification of family.

[From last month: Pedestrian hit on Auburn Blvd; police seek witnesses]

Another roadway collision involving a near-fatality occurred a few blocks away on Auburn Boulevard last month, near Kanai Avenue. The incident involved a pedestrian being struck while crossing outside of the sidewalk, according to police.

Note: An initial version of this story incorrectly stated the nearby pedestrian collision last month resulted in a fatality. The current status of the pedestrian is unknown, but he was last listed in “critical condition” by a police spokesperson on Sept. 21.

October 17, 2015
CHP awards Citrus Heights police for traffic safety efforts

Citrus Heights police traffic unit at a 2014 safety fair at the Citrus Town Center. File photo, CHSentinel

The Citrus Heights Police Department (CHPD) was presented with a “first place” award by the California Highway Patrol last week, being recognized for local efforts to reduce collisions and improve traffic safety in a statewide competition.

Competing in the 2014 California Law Enforcement Challenge, CHPD earned the top honor in the mid-sized municipal law enforcement agency category, which included agencies with 76 to 150 sworn officers. According to the CHP web site, Visalia Police Department placed second and South San Francisco Police Department placed third.

“The award signifies the hard work of the men and women of the Citrus Heights Police Department, who work tirelessly to improve traffic safety for their community,” police said Monday, in a news release authored by Det. Chad Morris.

The annual law enforcement challenge is a competition between similarly sized agencies for the best traffic safety programs in California, which focuses on efforts related to impaired driving, protecting vehicle occupants, speed awareness, and “traffic safety issues unique to the agency’s jurisdiction,” according to the CHP web site. The competition also assesses how agencies identified traffic problems through community input, crash analyses, speed and seat belt surveys, and what outcomes resulted from changes implemented.

Items on the competition’s application form also include a place for reporting statistics on prior year’s total collisions and fatalities within the agency’s jurisdiction. According to police, there were no pedestrian or vehicle-related fatalities in Citrus Heights during 2014, although there have been at least three pedestrian fatalities in 2015.

[Related: Pedestrian fatality on Auburn Blvd marks 3rd killed this year]

Citrus Heights police were also awarded for their utilization of technology to improve traffic safety in the 2014 competition. Previously, CHPD earned second place recognition in 2012.

October 15, 2015
Police: social media helped locate missing Citrus Heights girl

Citrus Heights police said an “at-risk” 12-year-old girl reported missing from her home Monday evening was safely located by police at a Sacramento address Tuesday, after detectives monitoring her social media postings determined a possible address she might have traveled to.

In a news release issued shortly after noon on Tuesday, Citrus Heights police said the missing girl, Julissa Magallon, had been located by Sacramento police around 9:40 a.m. at the address detectives determined. She was reportedly in good health and was “visiting a friend,” according to the news release.

Police had initially sent out a news release to enlist the public’s support in finding Magallon, after officers responded to a missing person call around 7:30 p.m. Monday, at a home on Navion Drive in Citrus Heights. Magallon had reportedly run away from her residence and had possibly been picked up by “an acquaintance” in a maroon four-door Honda sedan, according to a Citrus Heights Police Department investigation.

[Also on The Sentinel, “CHPD: missing ‘at-risk’ man found; social media credited”]

CHPD says it receives an average of 50 missing person calls each month and has credited social media with helping locate missing persons in the past. As previously reported on The Sentinel last month, an “at-risk” missing 57-year-old was successfully located in Citrus Heights after police said an alert resident recognized the man from a social media posting.
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October 7, 2015
Pedestrian hit on Auburn Blvd; police seek witnesses

Citrus Heights police investigate the scene of a vehicle versus pedestrian accident, Sunday morning.

Updated Sept. 22, 12:34 p.m.–
The Citrus Heights Police Department is seeking additional information from the public as officers investigate a Sunday-morning collision on Auburn Boulevard involving a pedestrian being struck by a vehicle.

The collision occurred just before 1 a.m. near Kanai Avenue, resulting in a portion of Auburn Boulevard being closed down for about four hours to allow for an investigation, according to a police news release issued Sunday. Police said a preliminary investigation revealed the pedestrian was not in a crosswalk, and several witnesses on scene said the pedestrian did not have the right of way while crossing.

“The car who had the green light hit him and he flew up in the air,” said Ethan Gillian who witnessed the collision after coming out of the nearby Rocky’s 7440 Club. The pedestrian was provided medical treatment at the scene and transported to a local hospital and listed in “critical condition,” according to Officer Anthony Boehle. As of Monday afternoon, Officer Boehle said he did not have an update from the hospital on the pedestrian’s condition.

Police said the driver of the vehicle was cooperative with the investigation and officers believe speed was not a factor in Sunday’s crash.

Witness William Bish initially told The Sentinel that a silver Mitsubishi, which was observed on scene in the middle of Auburn Boulevard, had struck the pedestrian. Officer Boehle later confirmed on Tuesday that a white Prius was the only vehicle involved. The Prius had been sectioned-off with crime scene tape about 100 feet away from the accident scene and had a severely smashed-in front windshield and damage to the hood.

[See photo: white Prius involved in pedestrian collision]

Sunday’s collision occurred within a few feet of where a 26-year-old woman was struck by a vehicle on Valentine’s Day earlier this year. She passed away a few days later from injuries sustained in the crash.

Three pedestrians have died on Citrus Heights streets this year; two of which have occurred on Auburn Boulevard.

[Related: Pedestrian fatality on Auburn Blvd marks 3rd killed this year]

In Sunday’s press statement, police reminded pedestrians “to use caution when crossing the roadway, and to use crosswalks and pedestrian signals when present.” Anyone with information related to the collision is asked to contact CHPD’s Traffic Unit at (916) 727-5500.
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September 21, 2015