Suspect No. 1

Suspect No. 2

Suspects steal alcohol and flee from store

On Sunday, the Paso Robles Police Department responded to the 7-Eleven convenience store at 2331 Spring Street for a reported theft. Officers learned that two male suspects entered the convenience store at approximately 1:30 a.m. Both suspects selected alcohol from a display case and concealed the alcohol on their persons.

The store clerk witnessed the suspects concealing the items and confronted both suspects as they attempted to exit the convenience store. Suspect No. 1 was able to exit the store with stolen alcohol and fled the area on foot. The store clerk attempted to detain suspect No. 2 who refused to return the alcohol.

Suspect No. 2 began violently punching the store clerk in the face, following the clerk as he retreated behind the counter, then intentionally knocked over a display case and then grabbed additional merchandise before fleeing out the front of the store and leaving the area on foot.

The Paso Robles Police Department has collected video surveillance evidence of the crime and is requesting the public’s assistance in identifying the suspects.

Anyone with information about these, or other crimes, is encouraged to call the Paso Robles Police Department at (805) 237-6464. Or persons wishing to remain anonymous are encouraged to call Crime Stoppers’ 24-hour hotline at 549-STOP or by texting “SLOTIPS” plus your message to CRIMES (274637). Or submit a Web Tip from the Crime Stoppers website at http://www.slotips.org.

Julio Alonso and Paulina Ramirez-Diaz. Photo from Facebook.

Update posted July 5

District Attorney unable to proceed due to lack of sufficient evidence

– The complaint alleging that 24-year-old Julio Cesar Alonso murdered Paulina Ramirez at her home in Nipomo on May 31, 2017 was dismissed today upon the motion of the District Attorney.

“Considering the current state of the evidence, along with our burden of proof ‘beyond a reasonable doubt,’ we are unable to proceed with prosecution at this time,” said Assistant District Attorney Lee Cunningham. “We are unable to comment further, as the case remains an open investigation.”

Update posted June 3

Man in questioning for girlfriend’s murder had been deported 10 months ago

–24-year-old Julio Cesar Alonso, who is currently the only suspect in a Nipomo murder case surrounding the death of his girlfriend, 24-year-old Paulina Ramirez-Diaz, had been deported to Mexico in August of 2016. He was the subject of a story about deportation published by The Desert Sun.

The story, published Aug. 10, 2016, states that, “After two years behind bars for a parole violation which Alonso claims he received after being arrested for driving without a license, he spent eight months in a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention facility before finally being deported.

Alonso spent his teens in and out of juvenile centers. He also worked in a restaurant, using someone else’s social security number to get the job and have a portion of his paycheck deducted for taxes. But he never got a driver’s license and was stopped for driving without one. A judge ordered him to go to classes but he didn’t go. A warrant for his arrest was issued.”

“I did commit some crimes,” he was quoted saying. “I wasn’t thinking about my consequence. I didn’t think it would come all the way to this. I did get incarcerated and I did serve my time for everything I did. I don’t see why I’m over here. I paid my debt to society.”

Alonso made his way back over the United States border illegally at some point since last summer. Updates will be posted as the story unfolds.

Previous coverage:

Update: Man charged with murdering girlfriend

Update posted June 1:

Victim identified as 24-year-old Paulina Ramirez-Diaz

24-year-old Julio Cesar Alonso

–The San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office is releasing new information on a suspicious death which occurred on Wednesday at a home in the 600 block of Pomeroy Road in Nipomo. A woman was found dead inside the home with a stab wound to her neck. The victim has been identified as 24-year-old Paulina Ramirez-Diaz of Nipomo.

A male, believed to be the boyfriend of the victim and living at the home, had been detained for questioning. He’s been identified as 24-year-old Julio Cesar Alonso. During the course of the investigation, detectives were able gather enough evidence to link Alonso to her death. As a result, Detectives have charged Alonso with a single count of murder and he was booked into San Luis Obispo County Jail. There are no outstanding suspects in this case. The investigation is continuing.

If anyone has information on this incident, they are asked to contact the Sheriff’s Detective Division at (805) 781-4500.

No further details are available at this time.

Original story posted May 31:

26-year-old female found dead with stab wound to her neck

–On Wednesday, dispatch from the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office received a 911 call from a home in the 600 block of Pomeroy Road in Nipomo. Deputies responded to the residence and found a 26-year-old female dead inside the home with a stab wound to her neck.

At this time, sheriff’s investigators are treating this incident as a suspicious death. One male, believed to be the boyfriend of the victim has been detained for questioning. Sheriff’s detectives are at the location, processing the crime scene and interviewing witnesses.

The investigation is on-going. No further information is available at this time.

Jeremy Brian Johnson.

–The San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office asks, ave you seen this man?

Jeremy Brian Johnson, 27, is wanted for possession of a firearm by a felon.

Johnson is White, 6′ 04″ tall, 150 pounds, and his last known address was in Pismo Beach.

If you have information on his whereabouts please contact the sheriff’s office at 781-4550.

–On June 21, a San Luis Obispo resident was the victim of a stolen wallet. The victim had several financial account numbers, credit / debit cards, personal information and identification cards in the wallet. On June 22, an unknown elderly suspect used the victim’s personal and financial information to make two separate $10,000 dollar withdrawals from two different banks in San Luis Obispo. The unknown suspect successfully impersonated the victim and fraudulently obtained a total of $20,000 dollars.

The suspect is a white adult, possibly female, around 5’03’’, 140 lbs, and approximately 65 years of age.

The Police Department is looking for assistance in identifying the suspect in this crime. If you have any information that could help in identifying the suspect depicted in the photograph below please contact the San Luis Obispo Police Department at 805-781-7312 or Crime Stoppers at 805-549-STOP.

–In recent months the San Luis Obispo Police Department has received multiple reports of illegal activity occurring in the residence in the 300 block of Tolosa. Over the past two weeks, investigators conducted an investigation into the complaints which culminated in the arrest of four suspects today.

The following individuals were arrested;

• Chad Strampe, a 21-year-old resident of San Luis Obispo, for being under the influence of a controlled substance.
• Raymond Arguelles,  a 32-year-old resident of San Luis Obispo, for possession of controlled substances and drug paraphernalia.
• Charles Simmons, a 34-year-old resident of San Luis Obispo, possession of methamphetamine.
• Drew Maness, the 25-year-old resident of San Luis Obispo, being under the influence of a controlled substance.

All four individuals were released on a citation from the police department.

If you have any information about this crime you are encouraged to call the San Luis Obispo Police Department at (805) 781-7312 or Crime Stoppers at (805) 549-STOP.

Omar Alfaro Lara.

–The San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office asks, have you seen this man?

Omar Alfaro Lara, 22, is wanted for a parole violation, robbery, obstructing or resisting a peace officer, and he is known to have a violent criminal history.

Lara is Hispanic, 5′ 08″ tall, 185 pounds and his last known address is unknown but he was last seen in the San Miguel area.

If you have information on his whereabouts please contact the Sheriff’s Office at (805) 781-4550.

Jeremy Johnson.

–The San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office announced that Jeremy Johnson, our the County’s Most Wanted subject from last week, is now in custody. Johnson was wanted for possession of a firearm by a felon.

Thank you to members of the public who helped to get the word out.

–On Tuesday, deputies from the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office were looking for a wanted parolee out of Kern County. The male suspect was spotted driving a white Lexus on Hetrick Avenue in Nipomo. When deputies attempted to stop the vehicle, the driver led deputies on a short pursuit that began at approximately 2:30 p.m. The vehicle entered Highway 101 at Willow Road and began driving southbound in the northbound lanes. As a result, at approximately 2:34 p.m., deputies terminated the pursuit for safety reasons.

At approximately 3:50 p.m., sheriff’s deputies in an unmarked unit spotted the suspect vehicle driving northbound on Highway 101 at Price Street in Pismo Beach and began to follow it. The vehicle exited at Avila Beach Drive and proceeded to get back on Highway 101 south. The suspect vehicle then exited the highway at Price Street and drove through downtown Pismo Beach before getting onto Highway 1. At this point, Pismo Beach Police picked up the vehicle pursuit. The suspect entered the Oceano Dunes state beach at the Grand Avenue entrance and proceeded south. State Park Rangers picked up the pursuit on the beach at speeds of approximately 40 miles an hour.

At approximately 4:15 p.m., the suspect vehicle got stuck in the sand and the suspect jumped out of the car and ran into the ocean. He was taken into custody at gunpoint by State Park Rangers.

The suspect is identified as 38-year-old Joshua Anthony Jordan of Bakersfield. He is wanted in two counties. Jordan is wanted in San Benito County for making felony criminal threats. And he is wanted in Kern County on a no-bail warrant for a parole violation. He was transported to San Luis Obispo County Jail and is facing new charges. He was arrested for felony willful cruelty to a child with possible injury or death because families and children were playing on the beach and had to run for safety to avoid being hit by Jordan. Jordan also faces a charge of felony evading a peace officer in a reckless manner.

Photo from Facebook.

–On Wednesday at approximately 3:30 p.m., a hit and run was reported in Atascadero near the McDonald’s on Morro Road. Atascadero resident John Whitford said that a young blonde woman, possibly in her 20s, crashed into his car and drove off after he asked for her insurance. The car is described as a white, 2015-2017 Ford Edge with damage on the passenger side and missing some trim. She reportedly had two young children in the car.

Anyone with possible information on this case is urged to contact the Atascadero Police Department.

–The Atascadero Police Department has arrested to Sacramento residents after they say they worked as a team to enact a strong-arm robbery on a victim after soliciting prostitution in an Atascadero hotel room.

On Saturday, at approx. 1:08 p.m. officers from the Atascadero Police Department responded to the 1600 Block of Calle Joaquin for a strong-armed robbery that occurred in a hotel room.

The victim met 24-year-old Sacramento woman Anetta Eaton in a hotel room, and Tierra Washington, a 23-year-old Sacramento resident entered the room unexpectedly. Washington took the victim’s money and rummaged through his wallet, according to the police department.

The victim was in fear and ran from the location to call 911. Officers checked the hotel room, but the suspects were gone. A couple of hours later both suspects were located at a hotel room in the 9400 block of El Camino Real in the City of Atascadero. Atascadero Police Officers, along with a San Luis Obispo Police Officer, contacted both suspects at their hotel room. Both suspects were arrested for Robbery and Conspiracy. Eaton had an additional charge of solicitation of prostitution.

If anyone has information regarding this crime, please contact the watch commander.

Both suspects were booked into San Luis Obispo County Jail and are being held on $30,000 bail.

–On Sunday at 9:40 a.m., officers with the Paso Robles Police Department, San Luis Obispo County Probation Department and Deputies with the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Department arrived at a residence in the 1000 Block of Niblick Road to conduct a probation compliance check on one of the residents.

Officers made contact with eleven individuals within the residence. Officers conducted a probation compliance search and located several items of narcotics paraphernalia. Officers located approximately ¼ ounce of packaged methamphetamine including digital gram scales and packaging materials consistent with possession for the purpose of drug sales. Officers also located approximately 3 grams of packaged heroin.

Officers arrested the following individuals for the following charges:

Dancene Cardoza, 41-year-old, Paso Robles resident.
• Possession of a controlled substance
• Possession of narcotics paraphernalia

Anthony Austin Blum.

Anthony Austin Blum, 30-year-old, Paso Robles resident.
• Under the influence of a controlled substance
• Possession of a controlled substance for sales

Nicole Marie DeYoung.

Nicole Marie DeYoung, 35-year-old, Paso Robles resident.
• Outstanding arrest warrant

Jason Robert Hall.

Jason Robert Hall, 30-year-old, Paso Robles resident.
• Under the influence of a controlled substance

Wendy Kay Lyons.

Wendy Kay Lyons, 37-year-old, Paso Robles resident.
• Under the influence of a controlled substance
• Possession of a controlled substance
• Possession of a narcotic
• Possession of narcotic paraphernalia

Dana Marie Dunn-Dunlap.

Dana Marie Dunn-Dunlap, 37-year-old, Paso Robles resident.
• Under the influence of a controlled substance
• Possession of narcotic paraphernalia

Troy Leon Cantrell.

Troy Leon Cantrell, 50-year-old, Paso Robles resident.
• Under the influence of a controlled substance
• Possession of a controlled substance
• Maintaining a drug house

All suspects were booked into the San Luis Obispo County Jail.

Anyone with information about these, or other crimes, is encouraged to call the Paso Robles Police Department at (805) 237-6464. Or persons wishing to remain anonymous are encouraged to call Crime Stoppers’ 24-hour hotline at 549-STOP or by texting “SLOTIPS” plus your message to CRIMES (274637). Or submit a Web Tip from the Crime Stoppers website at http://www.slotips.org.

Crime Stoppers offering $1000 reward to information leading to his arrest

–Since the beginning of July the San Luis Obispo, Arroyo Grande, Grover Beach and Pismo Beach Police Departments along with the California Highway Patrol have taken approximately 40 stolen vehicle reports. A majority of the vehicles stolen have been late 90’s to early 2000’s Honda Civics and Accords. This is a sharp increase in the number of stolen vehicles normally reported. Investigators from each of the above agencies have been working to identify the person responsible for the increase in stolen vehicles.

Zachary Hamlin, a 37-year-old San Luis Obispo County resident, has been identified as the suspect responsible for several of the stolen cars. There is currently a warrant for his arrest due to violation of his probation stemming from an unrelated stolen vehicle conviction.

Investigators are actively looking for Hamilin but have not been able to locate him. Crime Stoppers is offering a $1000 reward leading to the arrest and conviction of Hamlin. If you have any information related to the increase in stolen vehicles or the location of Hamlin you are encouraged to call the San Luis Obispo Police Department at 805-781-7312, your local police department or Crime Stoppers at 805-549-STOP.

SLOPD utilizes Nixle as an electronic information sharing system. Refer to nixle.com. to create an account and receive automatic timely updates and important news. Anonymous information may be referred to Crime Stoppers @ (805) 549-STOP.

–Jesse Medina Cordova, a 27-year-old man from Visalia, was arrested Tuesday in Templeton after police say he assaulted his girlfriend.

On Tuesday at approximately 11:19 p.m. California Highway Patrol responded to a call off of the Northbound US-101, south of Main Street in Templeton. A female covered in blood was reported to have been running in the northbound traffic lanes. CHP responded to the area and located a 25-year-old female on the right shoulder with a witness. The female had been assaulted by her boyfriend, Jesse Medina Cordova while traveling northbound US-101 from Pismo Beach, according to CHP. Cordova was located by CHP hiding behind some trees on Ramada Drive just north of Main Street.

Cordova was detained and questioned and was later arrested. Cordova was booked into the San Luis Obispo County Jail in lieu of a $50,000 bail.

–On July 18, the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Rural Crime Unit completed its investigation regarding an animal neglect case in California Valley. This investigation resulted in the seizure of 11 horses from property located in the 14000 block of Arvin Trail in Santa Margarita. The Sheriff’s Rural Crime Unit along with the assistance of a local ranch, County Animal Services and HEET (Horse Emergency Evacuation Team) were able to round up the horses and have them transported off-site.

The suspect, Misty Lambert of Paso Robles, had maintained the horses on the property. Through the course of the investigation, it was determined the horses were not provided with adequate food and water for periods as long as six days in temperatures in excess of 100 degrees.

Additionally, one of the horses, a colt, was attacked on multiple occasions by dogs at the location. The colt was ultimately euthanized due to its extensive untreated injuries. Seven of the remaining horses are being held at County Animal Services. The three remaining horses were stallions which were transported to the Equine Center in San Luis Obispo. Charges of felony animal neglect have been filed with the District Attorney’s Office against Lambert.

William Clemons.

–On July 26, at approximately 3:28 a.m., Paso Robles Police Officers were patrolling in the area of the 3000 block of Combine Street in the City of Paso Robles. This is an area of commercial businesses and new construction. Officers located a parked vehicle in the area that appeared to have just arrived. The vehicle was unoccupied, but there were several spools of copper electrical wire that were partially hidden in the rear seat. When officers checked a nearby building under construction, they located S/William Clemons, 36, of Paso Robles.

Clemons was walking inside of the construction area and did not give a plausible reason for being at the site. Also located within the site was a black bag containing bolt cutters, a flashlight, gloves, and an extension cord. When the owner of the construction site was contacted, he positively identified the spools of cable as his. Clemons was arrested for commercial burglary and transported to the Paso Robles Police Department for booking. During a search of Clemons vehicle incident to arrest, methamphetamine, cocaine, and drug paraphernalia were located inside of his vehicle. Clemons was subsequently transported to San Luis Obispo County Jail on the following charges:

• 459PC-Commercial burglary, a felony
• 11377HS-Possession of a controlled substance, a misdemeanor.
• 11350HS-Possession of a controlled narcotic, a misdemeanor.
• 11364HS-Possession of drug paraphernalia, a misdemeanor.

The Paso Robles Police Department encourages anyone with information regarding criminal activity in Paso Robles to contact Crime Stoppers at (805) 549-STOP (549-7867) or submit a Web Tip from the Crime Stoppers website at http://www.slotips.org. You can also submit a “Text Tip” by texting “slotips” and your message to CRIMES (or 274637). You may also contact the Special Enforcement Team (SET) directly at (805) 237-6464. You do not have to give your name.

Bianca Danielle Hicks.

–The San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office asks: Have you seen this woman?

Bianca Danielle Hicks, 27, is wanted for selling/furnishing a controlled substance to a prisoner, conspiracy to commit a crime, with an enhancement for a serious/violent prior conviction and two counts of committing a felony with prior prison terms for a felony within 5 years.

Hicks is White, 5′ 03″ tall, 120 pounds, and her last known address was in Morro Bay.

If you have information on her whereabouts please contact the sheriff’s office at (805) 781-4550.

Dennis Ray Barnes III

–The San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office asks: Have you seen this man?

Dennis Ray Barnes III, 32, is wanted for first degree burglary, vandalism, battery on a spouse/cohabitant, and willful cruelty to a child.

Barnes is Hispanic, 5′ 09″ tall, 180 pounds and his last known address is in Nipomo.

If you have information on his whereabouts please contact the sheriff’s office at (805) 781-4550.

–On July 19, at approximately 12:35 a.m. the San Luis Obispo Police Department received a 911 call of a stabbing that occurred in Bubblegum Alley, located in the 700 Block of Higuera in downtown San Luis Obispo. Officers responded and located one male victim who suffered multiple stab wounds to his upper torso and one stab wound to his forearm. The victim was transported to Sierra Vista Hospital where he was treated for non-life threatening injuries. The victim was released from the hospital later the same day.

An investigation revealed the victim was accompanied by another male subject during the assault. Video surveillance of Bubblegum Alley revealed there were three suspects that physically assaulted the victim, with only one of the suspects stabbing the Victim. It appears there was a dispute or prior altercation that led to the assault.

The first suspect is described as;
A Hispanic male with light skin complexion in his 20’s, 5’-08” tall, average build, with black hair that reaches the mid-neck line, black mustache, wearing a black and white flannel shirt, gold chain and black hat with green writing on it.

The second suspect is described as;
A Hispanic male with light skin complexion in his 20’s, 5’-08” tall, average build with brown hair that reaches the top of his shoulders, no facial hair, wearing a red and blue flannel shirt and the same black hat as Suspect #1.

The third suspect is described as;
A Hispanic male with light skin complexion in his 20’s, 6’00” tall, average build with short black hair, goatee style beard, wearing an all-white collared dress shirt with a backwards gray baseball hat.

SLOPD utilizes Nixle as an electronic information sharing system. Refer to http://www.nixle.com. to create an account and receive automatic timely updates and important news. Anonymous information may be referred to Crime Stoppers @ (805) 549-STOP

If you have any information or know the identity of these suspects, please contact the San Luis Obispo Police Department at (805) 781-7317 or Crime Stoppers at 805-549-STOP.

Luis Alberto Banuelos.

–The San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office asks: Have you seen this man?

Luis Alberto Banuelos, 26, is wanted for stalking in violation of a temporary restraining order, stalking with a prior conviction, contempt of court, and with an enhancement for having a serious or violent prior conviction and an enhancement for committing a felony with a prior prison term for a felony within five years.

Banuelos is Hispanic, 5′ 08″ tall, 190 pounds and his last known address was in Atascadero.

If you have information on his whereabouts please contact the sheriff’s office at (805) 781-4550.

Paso Robles company Trailer Barn posted a video on their Facebook page Aug. 5 recording a break in and robbery that had occurred early that morning.

They wrote the following post on their page and shared the video, below:

Hey friends and family of Trailer Barn. We had a break in early this morning. If you know this person or notice anything that could help identify them please let us know. Call us at 805-227-4300. We live in a small town, even with the mask there is a good chance somebody can recognize this person from their sweatshirt, pants, shoes, eyes, height, body type, etc. The police were on the scene fast, but the perp had already fled the scene by car. You can also call Paso Robles Police with any info at (805) 237-6464. Thanks!